Description: Join Connie Smith in this updated Crow/Raven Course, offering comprehensive video instruction with corresponding PDFs! Course enrollment includes access to a Private Facebook Group to encourage brainstorming and mutual encouragement. Participate in Live Zoom Q&A sessions with instructor Connie Smith and students, share images of your own progress!
First Course Content release: Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Media Category: Mixed Media
Course Type: Interactive (refer to the FAQ page for full descriptions of each course type)
Course Format: Full project
Course Begins: March 15, 2023, with Zoom schedule TBA beginning in April 2023
How to build a hollow Stoneware Crow/Raven Bust, wing clusters and wire legs (for Bird body) and/or Hands/Feet (for Anthro body) seal/finish in beeswax, oil pastels & mica powders; plus jointed cloth Body Parts. A companion course on integrated Costume Parts will be offered in September 2023.
Course Duration: Length of time to complete the course - Approximately 8 weeks
What will Students learn? How to build a hollow Stoneware Crow/Raven Bust, wing clusters and wire legs (for Bird body) and/or Hands/Feet (for Anthro body) seal/finish in beeswax, oil pastels & mica powders; plus jointed cloth Body Parts. A companion course on integrated Costume Parts will be offered in September 2023. (See SYLLABUS below for a detailed outline of Course Content and its schedule).
Instructor/Students interaction: Answer questions via emails, “Live” Instruction (eg: Facebook Live, Zoom), Private Facebook Group/Community Room
Class Size: Max number of students - 30
Skill Level: Intermediate, All levels welcome
Required skill(s): Basic sculpting and hand-sewing skills helpful. Knowledge of student's specific kiln operation (if using) is required.
Supplies and tools: See full supply list CSmith CrowRaven_SupplyList.pdf
Downloads: See the Lessons in Curriculum of the Landing Page
PREAMBLE: ONE FOR BAD NEWS; TWO FOR MIRTH...
Proposed Schedule for January-February 2023
Downloadable PDF of Proposed Schedule for Jan-Feb 2023
Lesson 1A: Introduction to Cassius Basaltic Stoneware
P.S. to Lesson 1A: Quick Note about Clay and Plumbing
Lesson 1B: Slab-to-Cone + Butter-Scraping Technique
Lesson 2: Facial Features + Texture-Mapping
Lesson 3: Applying Feather Texture to Raven Bust
Lesson 4: Opening Beak, Adding Tongue + Throat
Lesson 5:Finish/Sign Bust + Bonus Demos of Butter-Scraping for Feathers
Lesson 6A: Assembling Feather Clusters for Wings & Tail
Lesson 6B: Final Refinements Before Drying to Greenware
Lesson 1A: Sculpting Hands in Cassius Basaltic
Lesson 1B: Finishing Hands in Cassius Basaltic
Lesson 2A: Sculpting Small Solid Feet in Cassius Basaltic
Lesson 2B: Finishing Small Solid Feet in Cassius Basaltic
Lesson 3A: Patterns for Hollow Feet + a Note on Reusables
Lesson 3B: Sculpting Larger Hollow Feet in Cassius Basaltic (AirDry Clay Users DISREGARD)
Lesson 4: DEMO: Kiln-Firing in my Olympic HotBox Test Kiln (AirDry Clay Users DISREGARD)
Lesson 1A: Hollow PaperClay Bust, Slab-to-Cone
Lesson 1B: Mapping Facial Features
Lesson 1C: Opening the Beak
Lesson 1D: Final Embellishments
Lesson 2A: Counter-Weighted Wire and Cardboard Armature for Foot/Leg
Lesson 2B: Thread-Wrapping Wire Leg Armature for PaperClay
Lesson 2B: Wire Armatures for Hands in PaperClay
Lesson 2C: Thread-Wrapping Wire Hand Armature
Lesson 2D: Fleshing Thread-Wrapped Hand Armature in Creative PaperClay
Lesson 2D: Fleshing Wire/Cardboard Foot/Leg Armature w/PaperClay
Lesson 2E: Building a Mirrored Mate Limb
Lesson 3: Painting PaperClay Parts with Watercolor Before Waxing
Lesson 1: Transporting Wares + Sealing Clay Parts in Beeswax
Lesson 2: Refining Final Color with Oil Pastels and Mica Powders
Lesson 3: Glossing Sculpted Eyes
with Connie Smith In this 1st of 2 courses, create a Raven or Crow figure from Stoneware OR Air-Dry Clay, and an articulated cloth + wire body as Bird or Anthro Hybrid! Clay/Cloth Body Course resumes March 2023. Costuming Course, debuts Sept 2023.
$99
Tandem Teachers Pat Lillich and Connie Smith take their mutual regard for each other's work to the next level! Join us as we cross-pollinate two of our favorite techniques to create beautiful, ethereal sculpted paper wings for special projects!
$55
with Connie Smith, ongoing, with a NEW ZOOM ITINERARY BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 2024! Make your own jointed Bird Doll updated Painting demos! Full access to Private Facebook Group; participants from original Zoom sessions welcome to join new Zooms!
$150
