MONUMENTAL FIGURES
LARGE-SCALE SCULPTING INTENSIVE

8-DAY COURSE
January 4–11, 2027 | Monday–Monday | 10 AM–6 PM


Spend eight days in the studio creating a monumental clay figure up to 5 feet tall! This intensive is designed for artists ready to work at scale. Open to intermediate and advanced participants (previous clay experience required).

The workshop draws from my approach to building guardian figures—forms that carry weight, presence, and intention. We'll focus on developing structure, gesture, and surface at a monumental scale.

Drawing on seven years of sculptural practice, formal training at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), mentorship under master sculptors, and international artist residencies, Isolina shares the technical and expressive methods behind her monumental ceramic figures.

Through daily demonstrations, individual guidance, and independent studio time, students will develop their own monumental figures while exploring the technical and expressive possibilities of large-scale ceramic sculpture.

Workshop Details

Dates: January 4–11, 2027

Hours: 10 AM–6 PM daily, with 24-hour studio access

Location: 35 Meadow St, Suite 216, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Limited to just four artists

Experience: Intermediate–advanced. Previous clay experience required.

What to Bring: A fork, notebook, Mudtool Extra Long Scraper Stainless Rib, personal sculpting toolkit, a collection of printed reference images. Please print your references beforehand. Sketches of sculpture you intend to make. 

What We'll Cover

• Building strong, hollow forms for large-scale structural stability
• Working in sections and joining forms to achieve height and volume
• Sculpting gesture, proportion, and expressive anatomy
• Adding detail and surface design at a monumental scale
• Drying, preparing, and loading large-scale work for firing

What's Included

• Up to 200 lbs of clay per student (8 boxes of Standard #547 Red Sculpture Clay) No additional clay will be provided. Students must plan their sculptures within the allotted amount.
• One firing cycle section of sculpture: once-fired to cone 6 or bisque-fired, at the student's discretion.   
• Firing risk: Large ceramic sculptures can crack, warp, or break during drying and firing. Successful firing is not guaranteed, even with proper construction.
• Underglaze and oxides available for use. Glaze firing is not included. 
• Daily demonstrations and individual guidance from Isolina
• 24-hour access to the studio throughout the intensive
• One curated field trip to New York City galleries and museums, with admission fees covered
• Light refreshments

Curated Field Trip — Day 2

On Tuesday, January 5, students are invited to join Isolina for a curated half-day field trip to select New York City galleries and museums.

This excursion will explore historical and contemporary approaches to sculpture, offering inspiration for form, gesture, scale, and storytelling.

Museum admission fees are included in tuition. Participation is optional, and students may choose to remain in the studio to work independently.

Sculpture Size & Safety

All completed sculptures must remain within the maximum dimensions of 60 inches tall × 20 inches wide × 20 inches deep, including any protruding elements.

All sculptures must be constructed in manageable, hollow sections, with each individual section measuring no more than 12 inches in height. Sections must also be appropriately sized and weighted for safe handling, transportation, and kiln loading.

All sculpture designs and construction methods must be approved by Isolina. Students may be required to modify or divide sections that exceed safe handling or kiln requirements.

All size restrictions are strictly enforced. No exceptions will be made.

Firing & Sculpture Pickup

Sculptures will remain in the studio for approximately one month to dry thoroughly before firing. Completed sculptures are expected to be ready for pickup approximately two months after the intensive, depending on drying conditions and firing requirements.

Students will be notified by email when their sculptures are ready.

Students are responsible for arranging pickup and transportation of their completed work. Shipping and delivery are not included. Isolina is not responsible for arranging shipment.

Sculpture Handling & Safety Policy

1. All monumental sculptures must be constructed in manageable sections suitable for safe handling, transportation, and kiln loading.
2. Students are responsible for ensuring that each section of their sculpture is an appropriate weight and size for safe handling. Isolina is not responsible for lifting or transporting excessively heavy or oversized sections.
3. Students must communicate any lifting concerns in advance. Heavy or difficult-to-handle pieces may require assistance or appropriate lifting equipment. No student or instructor should attempt to lift work that cannot be handled safely.
4. For everyone's safety, Isolina reserves the right to require students to modify or divide sections that exceed safe handling or kiln-loading requirements.

Clay & Materials Policy

Each student will be provided with up to 200 lbs of clay for their sculpture. Any unused clay at the end of the intensive will remain the property of Isolina's studio and will be reclaimed or reused for future projects.

Unused clay is not eligible for refunds or credits.

Registration & Cancellation Policy

Full payment is required to reserve your place. All registrations are final and non-refundable, except where required by law.

If you are unable to attend, your enrollment may be transferred to a future offering of this intensive, subject to availability and advance notice.

If the course is canceled by the instructor, a full refund will be issued.

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