Building a hollow human figure from clay

Lavizzara, Switzerland

Summary

Getting intensively involved in creating a figure in clay or porcelain and having the opportunity to fire it later is appealing! A large figure has its own strong presence, is a counterpart, even more so when it is colored. Our own body feeling guides us in finding the form.

Dry, leather-hard, slip - what can clay do in different degrees of hardness? We will start with material studies and try to use the newly discovered aesthetics to build a hollow figure up to one meter high. Perhaps in the end, glimpses of the hollow form will remain visible? The figures can be colored in the course of the construction process. How do color and form interact? Concentrating on the torso or body fragments is conceivable. You can bring along picture templates, but you can also be inspired by the material on site to create a body shape.
We will use coarsely fired red and white clay and porcelain as materials. We will create stamps from plaster to give the clay its own surface structure.
The figures will be taken home in a leather-hard state and can later be fired in your environment once they are completely dry.

Material costs for clay and paint according to consumption, approx. CHF 100 to CHF 200 per person.

Course language is German

Language skills of the course leader: FR / EN

The retreat at a glance

The most important facts in a nutshell:

Categories: Modeling, Creative Retreats
Date: 2026-10-18 - 2026-10-23
Language(s): English, German
Level: Expert, Beginner
Place: Lavizzara, Switzerland
Accommodation: not included
Catering: No meals
Services: In our seminars, you will be taught and accompanied by highly qualified instructors.

The Scuola di Scultura maintains the buildings, workplaces and their technical equipment.

The atmosphere in the studio is ideal for getting started in artistic work.

Accommodation

There are various options for organizing accommodation during the courses. You can stay together with the other course participants in one of the Scuola's accommodation buildings, or you can book one of 4 studio apartments directly on the school's premises. You can also book a hotel room with breakfast or rent a rustico in the area.

Costs for accommodation in one of the Scuola di Scultura's course houses:
Double room for 1 week: 200.- CHF
Single room for 1 week: 300.- CHF

Catering

Breakfast & lunch will be organized by the participants themselves and can be arranged freely, in the evening there will be a meal together in the Ex-Osteria in Prato Sornico.

Various chefs are happy to cook for our course participants and offer dinner at the Ex-Osteria Mignami during the week (Mon-Fri). Dinner costs CHF 26 including starter/main/dessert (drinks such as wine, beer, etc.) can be purchased from them by the bottle.

sequence

Arrival: Sunday meeting point 5.15 pm, organizational matters, setting up the studio, moving into the accommodation and eating together, if desired.
Working hours: Monday to Friday: 8.30 am to 12 noon, 2 pm to 5 pm.
In addition, you can work freely.
Departure after the end of the course, possible until 10 am on Saturday.

Arrival

Arrival by public transport from Locarno SBB railroad station. Take the "Vallemaggia" bus to Bignasco, then change to the Postbus to the "Peccia Paese" stop.

By car via Gotthard (A2) / San Bernardino (A3/A13) or Chiasso (A2) / exit: "Bellinzona Sud/Locarno" direction Locarno (main road) / Locarno tunnel / exit: "Vallemaggia/ Centovalli / Onsernone" (DO NOT leave Locarno!) continue in the direction of Vallemaggia (from the end of the tunnel another 40 km to Peccia)

Coming from western Switzerland and Valais: Simplon route to Domodossola / Centovalli / Ponte-Brolla, then turn left into Vallemaggia (from here 35 km to Peccia)

Via Piano di Peccia , 6695 Lavizzara, Ticino, Switzerland

Cancellation policy

After this, if you cancel up to the day of arrival, you will receive a 100% refund of the booking price.

Cancellation of course/seminar/accommodation: From registration up to 4 weeks before the start of the course/seminar, a cancellation fee of 10% will be charged for the course, seminar and accommodation. 4 weeks or less before the start of the course/seminar, a cancellation fee of 50% will be charged. If you cancel 1 week or more before the start of the course/seminar, the entire fee is due unless you provide a replacement.

Dates

2026-10-18

2026-10-23
Send booking request

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Send Booking Request

Building a hollow human figure from clay

Summary

The retreat at a glance

Accommodation

Catering

sequence

Arrival

Cancellation policy

Dates

Similar Retreats

Plaster - figurative / Modeling & plaster

Relearning the old - basket weaving with willow

Creative vacation Colored porcelain casting with engobe for beginners and advanced students

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