Narrative Animal Sculpture with Lisa Naples

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Animals have long been used as symbols in storytelling all around the world, and visual artists have been using animal figures in artwork for just as long. In this installment of the Ceramic Arts Daily Presents Video Series, Lisa Naples shares her insights and techniques on sculpting animals in clay to tell stories. She begins with a mixed media project, explaining not only the ins and outs of sculpting convincing mammal forms in clay, but also the technical issues of building clay pieces to successfully mesh with non clay materials. She also explores the process of pairing animal parts with pottery forms, creating a sculptural bird vase. In addition, Lisa shows how to make the figures come alive through her fabulous brush work and dry-brush slip application. Throughout the video, Lisa shares her insights on how to play with ideas and incorporate symbolism and meaning into your work.

Total runtime: 2 hours, 20 minutes

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About the Author

Lisa Naples

Lisa Naples resides in Frenchtown, New Jersey, where she makes pottery and narrative sculpture, and teaches classes in workshops in her community studio. In 1988, she earned her MFA in ceramics from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She has given lectures and workshops at Penland School of Craft, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and other noted ceramic workshop centers. Her work has been exhibited at the James A. Michener Art Museum, the Washington Craft Show, Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Shows, and other juried shows around the United States. In 2005, Lisa was awarded an NCECA Residency Award at Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. To learn more about Lisa, please visit www.lisanaples.com.

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Topics: Handbuilding Techniques, Ceramic Sculpture

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Narrative Animal Sculpture with Lisa Naples Lisa Naples