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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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Mary Ann Roigers

Mary Ann Roigers Fri Jun 20 2025

This video was so incredibly wonderful!!! I will actually try to give a go a making the vase with th

This video was so incredibly wonderful!!! I will actually try to give a go a making the vase with the bird, so beautiful!! Lisa makes it sound like something anyone can have a try at and I will be doing just that! Plus the part about making the animal mouth...she made it seem so easy, what a great instructor; please make more videos!Read full comment

Anne Aden

Anne Aden Tue Jun 17 2025

Thank you -- Exceptional video!

Terri Eger

Terri Eger Wed Aug 28 2024

Thank you so much for all your information. I really enjoyed the video and have been encouraged and

Thank you so much for all your information. I really enjoyed the video and have been encouraged and inspired to give sculptural animals a try!Read full comment

Christina Kemp

Christina Kemp Fri Sep 15 2023

I really enjoyed this video, Thank you:)

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