A seated pose offers new possibilities for expression and some inherent challenges that are different from standing poses. Alicia's curriculum places emphasis on exploring the gesture and its meaning, as well as developing one's method and problem-solving skills. The week will begin with several quick clay sketches from a live model in order to explore various poses and discuss the compositional elements of each pose. Students will be encouraged to participate in selected poses. The group will discuss each pose in terms of content and aesthetic value as well as expressive qualities. After selecting the pose for a longer study, the group will spend the remaining four days developing the pose as a clay model. Alicia will introduce her "Three Stages of Figure Modeling", a framework for helping students to prioritize information and develop a coherent method for describing the human form in clay. Students will work on a wire armature in oil-based clay at an 18-inch scale. Teaching methods will include brief lectures, step-by-step demonstrations, group discussions, and individual feedback. Alicia will work alongside students throughout the week. All experience levels are welcome. www.aliciaponzio.com
