Tip Toland came to Mudfire this past weekend to give a three day workshop titled “Putting Expression Into The Face.” As one could guess it was a workshop about figurative sculpture. The workshop started off very similar to Debra Fritts workshop in that a head needed to be created and the features added in the correct locations and proportions. We learned the slight differences in the placement of the eyes of a male versus those of a female – something I never knew. She explained how the proportions differ as a person ages. She also taught how to appropriately show age in a face.
Tip stands in front of the classroom in something of a ballerina pose and in a very soft, sweet voice explains what the face does when we are experiencing various emotions. If you study emotions you can see slight changes in brow and cheek as well as eyes and mouth. It helps to really try to feel the emotion you’re trying to create in your sculpture.
Getting good flesh tones is something that many artist find difficult, I know I have. Tip taught the class various methods she uses for creating her very real looking figures. She uses a combination of methods including adding house paint with a toothbrush and brushing on chalk pastels.
This workshop was fun. Tip really has a passion for her work but she also doesn’t seem to take life too seriously. I never had the feeling that she was running through a planned script and trying to fit in appropriate jokes at an appropriate time but we all laughed a lot throughout the workshop. It seemed that her spirit and intellect was infused in the class. I don’t do much figurative sculpture but I still learned some things that I will use in my work (I already have some new ideas for my plates) and I met someone who I’d love to just hang out with and discuss art or politics or whatever. I would highly recommend taking a workshop with Tip Toland.


Click here to visit Planet SARK.










Social Links