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Sculpture
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Introduction to Foundry and Mold Making (In-Person)
with Pavel Efremoff
Thursdays, 12:30 - 4 p.m.
Instructor: Pavel Efremoff
Twelve-Week Condensed Course (42 Hours)
Note: No class during Spring Break, March 2 - 8.
Foundry metal casting is the process of creating metal objects by pouring molten metal into a mold and letting it cool to solidify. This course will cover all aspects of the foundry process with an emphasis on mold making as an essential element of a sculptor’s toolkit for both bronze casting and creating objects in multiples. Demonstrations and hands-on instruction will be given in wax modeling and casting, ceramic shell techniques, bronze pouring, metal chasing, TIG welding and patination. Course content will include step-by-step guidance in mold making production as students apply this process to their own projects. This class presents integral skills for any sculptor and is an excellent follow-up for students who have taken a clay-modeling class and wish to preserve their work. Beginner-friendly and open to all levels. Note: Tuition includes a $75 lab fee.
Image: Pavel Efremoff
Register by: January 15
Materials List
Please review CE's Winter/Spring 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
Foundry: An Introduction/All-Levels (In-Person)
with Pavel Efremoff
Thursdays, 6 - 9:30 p.m.
Instructor: Pavel Efremoff
Twelve-Week Condensed Course (42 Hours)
Note: No class during Spring Break, March 2 - 8.
This course will cover all aspects of the foundry process. Demonstrations and hands-on instruction will be given in wax modeling and casting, ceramic shell techniques, bronze pouring, metal chasing, TIG welding and patination. All levels welcome. Note: Tuition includes a $75 lab fee.
Image: Pavel Efremoff
Register by: January 15
Materials List
Please review CE's Winter/Spring 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
Stone Carving (In-Person)
with Steve Nocella
Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Instructor: Steve Nocella
Twelve-Week Course (36 Hours)
Note: No class during Spring Break, March 2 - 8.
Explore the possibilities of stone carving by using traditional and nontraditional methods. All processes from rough carving to polishing will be covered, and various tools and techniques will be demonstrated. Open to all levels. Note: Tuition includes $30 lab fee.
Learning Objectives
- Develop proficiency in basic tool use including manual carving, pneumatic carving, sawing, grinding, and sanding.
- Learn the methods of stone carving beginning with "roughing out" a form and finishing with sanding and polishing.
- Develop a perceptual ability for spatial relationships of the elements that constitute a sculpture or a three-dimensional image.
- Learn to use creative and critical thinking in the process of carving sculpture.
- Gain an appreciation for the influence and informing effect that medium and process have on image making.
- Acquire an introductory understanding of the history of stone carving and the capacity to conceptualize context for the student's sculpture.
Image: Steve Nocella, Untitled, 1995, limestone, 26 x 6.5 x 7 in.
Register by: January 16
Materials List
Please review CE's Winter/Spring 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
Metal Sculpture (In-Person)
with Steve Nocella
Saturdays, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Instructor: Steve Nocella
Ten-Week Course (30 Hours)
Note: No class during Spring Break, March 2 - 8.
This ten-week course teaches the basic skills needed for making metal sculpture. Learn fundamental methods of cutting, bending and welding metal such as sawing, heating, and MIG welding. Students will be encouraged to explore the medium with directness and spontaneity to gain a knowledge and understanding of its complexion. Open to all levels. Note: Tuition includes a $65 lab fee.
Image: Steve Nocella, Bust with Helmet and Facemask No. 6, 2023, Mixed Media.
Register by: January 16
Materials List
Please review CE's Winter/Spring 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
Terracotta Figure Sculpture (In-Person)
with Morgan Dummitt
Wednesdays, 6 - 9 p.m.
Instructor: Morgan Dummitt
Ten-Week Course (30 Hours)
Modeling the figure in clay is the foundational skill of traditional sculpture. Working from a model, learn to sculpt in clay from initial gesture to surface finishing techniques. Topics of study will include proportion, composition, structure, and simplified sculptural form. Students will complete two sculptures in the course of the class. All work will be fired after class. Beginners welcome. Note: Tuition includes a $65 models fee.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Gain a basic understanding of the osteology, myology, and anatomy of the figure
- Analyze and organize the various elements of the body into simplified sculptural forms
- Carry out best practices for modeling and maintaining water-based clay sculpture
- Understand best practices for creating ceramic sculpture
Image: Morgan Dummitt, Brittany, terracotta.
Register by: January 28
Materials List
Please review CE's Winter/Spring 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
Ceramic Sculpture (In-Person)
with Matthew Courtney
Tuesdays, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Instructor: Matthew Courtney
Ten-Week Course (30 Hours)
Unlock your creativity through the art of sculpting with clay. Through hands-on instruction and practice, learn essential techniques such as pinching, slab-building, coil-building, and surface treatments. Explore the principles of form, texture, and composition, as well as the fundamentals of the firing process. Join us to express yourself and develop your sculpting skills in a supportive and inspiring environment -- open to both beginners and experienced artists! Tuition includes a $30 lab fee.
Image: Matthew Courtney, Birds, 2017.
Register by: February 17
Materials List
Please review CE's Winter/Spring 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
Wood Studio (In-Person)
with John Greig
Tuesdays, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Instructor: John Greig
Ten-Week Course (30 Hours)
This class will explore wood as a primary art-making medium, looking at its many types, techniques and uses. Students will develop a well-rounded foundation of wood-working skills including cutting, milling, laminating, joinery and safe use of wood-working tools. Contemporary, traditional and ancient art works made of wood will be presented for historical and contextual understanding. Students will be encouraged to find their own unique voice within the material while building skills. Tuition includes $30 materials fee.
Image: John Greig
Register by: February 17
Materials List
Please review CE's Winter/Spring 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
Assemblage Art: Creating Work in a Series (Online)
with Colleen O'Donnell
Fridays, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Zoom meetings supplemented by Canvas content)
Instructor: Colleen O'Donnell
Six-Week Short Course (18-Hour Equivalent)
Unlock your creative voice through the art of assemblage. Learn how to build a cohesive body of mixed-media work by exploring themes, motifs, and the power of working in a series. Through discussion, material exploration, and supportive critique, develop your visual language while experimenting with found objects and personal materials. By the end of the course, each participant will complete a meaningful 3–6 piece assemblage mini-series that expresses their unique story and artistic perspective.
Image: Student Patti Rosenberg.
Register by: March 6
Materials List - Coming Soon
Please review CE's Winter/Spring 2026 Policy Guide, including withdrawal/refund policies, prior to registering.
Information for PAFA CE Online Courses