Portraiture in Clay with Jamie Bates — Feb 8 - 9

Dates: February 8, 2025 → February 9, 2025
Times: 2-5 Saturday, 10-5 Sunday
Level: All levels

Workshop Description:
During this workshop students will learn to create a sculptural portrait out of clay. Each piece will be built solid and hollowed out for complete freedom while sculpting. The self-portraits will begin with general rules of proportion and will end with a complete detailed image of the sculptor. Sculpting topics to be discussed will include anatomy, underlying bone structure, musculature, expression, ethnicity, weight, and age. Underglaze decorating techniques will be discussed if time permits. This workshop is open to all skill levels.

About the Instructor:
Jamie Bates, originally from Cameron, Missouri, is a ceramic artist celebrated for their exploration of identity and mental landscapes through figurative sculpture. Holding an MFA in Ceramics from the University of Kansas and a BFA in Studio Art from the University of Central Missouri, Bates skillfully employs scale, composition, and surface to challenge societal norms and address themes such as mental health, sexuality, and gender. Their work has garnered recognition in solo and group exhibitions and social media, captivating audiences with its thought-provoking depth and emotional resonance. Currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Ceramics at the University of Oklahoma, Bates continues to inspire and educate emerging artists while further developing their own practice. Bates has also participated in prestigious artists residencies across the US, further enriching their artistic practice and expanding their creative horizons. Through their work, Bates invites viewers to contemplate the complexities of the human experience, fostering dialogue and introspection.

Required Materials:
- NA

Optional Materials:
- Wire Cutter - https://mudtools.com/collections/wire-tools/products/mudwire-heavy-black Small self-supporting mirror - https://www.amazon.com/Coobbar-Desktop-Foldable-Portable-Princess/dp/B07MBJ7RWR/ref=sr_1_32?crid=3CLCLRCGM6ABC&keywords=small+self+supporting+mirror&qid=1645404417&sprefix=small+self+supporting+mirror%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-32 paring knife - http://www.xiemtoolsusa.com/Potters-Knife_p_116.html *Small wire loop tools for detailing - https://www.baileypottery.com/c-090-073.html

Throwing sponges - https://mudtools.com/collections/sponges-1/products/mudsponge-collection *Large wire loop tools for hollowing - https://www.baileypottery.com/c-090-046.html

small flat paintbrushes - https://www.amazon.com/Paintbrush-Acrylic-Watercolor-Painting-Professional/dp/B07S2R6SVL Xacto knife *Xiem clay scrapper- http://www.xiemtoolsusa.com/Scraper-Tool-Hand-Forged_p_244.html The tools I linked are just my preferred versions of each tool. There are more affordable options for some of these tools. The tools marked with a * are where I suggest getting the specific tool I linked. *Mudtools red rubber rib (number 0) - https://mudtools.com/collections/polymer-ribs/products/polymer-rib-shape-0?variant=40642625420 *Mudtools Serrated Paisley rib (18 teeth) - https://mudtools.com/collections/metal-ribs/products/scraper-rib-paisley?variant=40643144140