Expressive & Dynamic Ceramic Animals
with James Ort
Nov 30 - Dec 13, 2025
Take a deep dive into learning how to make clay animals with James Ort. Using a contemporary technique that is loose, expressive and breaks all the rules, this will be an intense, and yet, intensely fun course! Heralding from the United Kingdom, James Ort has been teaching for years now. He specializes in a form of contemporary clay modelling which pushes clay to its limits. The technique is fast, easy to learn and adaptable.
Over the duration of the course, you will typically make one sculpture each day – this is to ensure you do not get too precious or tight, for it is the spontaneity and looseness that brings the life! To give you the best understanding and skills, James will show you how to make a range of animals in a range of forms, including wall-mounted portrait heads, four-legged standing mammals, dynamic, seated and two legged standing mammals, as well as birds and fish. James will be given a series of demonstrations that show you the key stages and principles of the technique.
The rest of the time will be spent making your own pieces, with James offering guidance and support every step of the way. Once completed, your masterpieces will be dried out and bisqued. The final firing will bring your pieces to life with colour, by the use of an array of oxides, underglazes, and a tiny bit of transparent glaze for the eyes.
TUITION: USD $2200 inclusive of all studio materials, glazes and firings, catered lunches, welcome dinner, and excursions around the island. We will assist in making recommendations for bookings for nearby hotels, bungalows or home-stays in convenient proximity to Gaya studio (accommodation is not included in tuition).