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General Description

Throughout history the study of anatomy has played a major role in the education of both the representational painter and sculptor. Recognizing and understanding both the skeleton and the muscles and how they affect movement, form and surface anatomy are skills that help the artist in both accurately capturing nature and using more creative freedom while working with the figure. Écorché refers to a traditional way of studying anatomy by either drawing or sculpting the figure without skin.

During the course students learn about the construction of the full skeleton, including the surface muscles and the proportions of the figure. They begin by first sculpting the bones and then adding the muscles one by one, on one side of the sculpture, leaving the skeleton on the other side for reference.

The course starts with a set of lectures during the morning to prepare the student to sculpt during the afternoons and then moves quickly to sculpting full days with occasional lectures. Students are expected to continue after class to work independently on their ecorché sculptures. The material used is oil-based clay that allows for flexibility and maximum control over small details. The lectures together with daily individual critiques ensure that each student gains a deep understanding of anatomy and gets a taste of how the skills studied during the course helped great artists of the past in creating their masterpieces.

Beginning – Intermediate – Advanced levels welcome.

Maximum enrollment 10 students.

Additional Info

WORKSHOP CREDITS: 6 per session

Please note: The Florence Academy of Art expresses workshop coursework in credits to the equivalent of 1 credit for 20 hours of completed study. Academic grades are not awarded and there are no exams. Please see each course for total hours of study. Any final acceptance or recognition of hours of study or credits for workshop (external activity) is at the discretion of the Home University or institution in question and in accordance with each institution’s transfer policy.

Medium & Materials

Oil based clay

Students receive a list of materials and tools required for the workshop in their acceptance email. While most materials are provided, some basic tools are needed to participate in the workshop. These can either be brought from home, or purchased in a kit from the school before arrival.

Estimated cost of kit: EUR 30

If you wish to keep your Ecorché sculpture, the cost of the materials, armature and clay, is EUR 150. Information on shipping your sculpture home will be provided with the acceptance email; shipping costs from Italy will vary widely depending on the destination.

What’s Included

  • 60 hours Instruction in English
  • 60 hours independent study
  • Individual critiques
  • Welcome Party in the gardens of the Budini Gattai Palace in Florence on the first Thursday of the month, to meet fellow students and faculty
  • Guided museum visit to the Bargello Museum with the Academy’s resident Art Historian to view major works by Renaissance sculptors
  • Summer Exhibition to view the latest work by FAA faculty
  • Access to the on-campus FAA Café where students may purchase breakfast, lunch and enjoy an afternoon aperitivo
  • Extended Access to the studios and school facilities after class until 9 pm
  • List of housing recommendations

Faculty

Maudie Brady graduated in 1995 from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelors of Art, and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology with a Bachelors of Fine Art in Sculpture in 1998. She pursued a career in the Film and Television Industry, and over the course of the next 12 years learnt a wide range of skills within the Art and Construction Departments where she developed a love for sculpting. Realising there was much more to learn specifically about figurative sculpture she sought out the best training on offer, and in 2013 joined The Florence Academy of Art. In 2016 she completed the Figurative Sculpture Diploma at FAA with a student teaching scholarship, winning Best Drawing of the Sculpture Program. That year Maudie also won Best Figure for her Life Size sculpture ‘Laura’ at the 12th ARC International Salon Competition. She continues to teach in the Sculpture Program at the Academy, and is Director of Anatomy and Ecorché Sculpture, whilst maintaining a personal art practice in the studio the Academy provides.

See more of Maudie’s work in the Alumni Gallery and at www.maudiebrady.com and @maudiebradyart

Location

ADDRESS: Via Aretina 293, Florence, Italy

* If the workshop or session is fully booked you may apply to be placed on our waitlist. Should we have a cancellation or a place becomes available, we will contact you.