Sculpting Drapery: Still Life in Sculpture

Sculpting Drapery: Still Life in Sculpture - In Person

Michela Roman | Summer | Wednesdays: Jun 3 - Aug 5

Class Description:

Explore the expressive movement of fabric through clay in this focused study of sculpting drapery from observation.

Sculpting drapery is an important exercise in observation, form, and material sensitivity. In this course, students will explore the expressive and structural qualities of fabric through the medium of clay, developing technical skills and a deeper understanding of sculptural form. Working from drapery still-life arrangements, students will complete two studies and one finished sculpture, learning sight-measurement techniques and the seven most common fabric folds. This hands-on approach strengthens observational accuracy while refining the ability to capture gesture, rhythm, and movement within complex organic forms. Emphasis will be placed on proportion, contour in three dimensions, and finishing techniques including surface treatment. Students will have the opportunity to fire their final piece. Skills developed in this course are applicable across artistic disciplines, including drawing, painting, and sculpture, and will support each student’s individual creative vision.

Enroll Now

Summer Session Dates:

Scheduled occurrences for this class are as follows:

Week	Date	Time
Week 1:	6/3/2026	6 - 9 pm ET
Week 2:	6/10/2026	6 - 9 pm ET
Week 3:	6/17/2026	6 - 9 pm ET
Week 4:	6/24/2026	6 - 9 pm ET
Week 5:	7/1/2026	6 - 9 pm ET
Week 6:	7/8/2026	6 - 9 pm ET
Week 7:	7/15/2026	6 - 9 pm ET
Week 8:	7/22/2026	6 - 9 pm ET
Week 9:	7/29/2026	6 - 9 pm ET
Week 10:	8/5/2026	6 - 9 pm ET

Before Class - Welcome & How to Prepare for Class
Week 1 - Introduction & Still Life Study #1 — Drop Fold
Week 2 - Still Life Study #1 — Drop Fold
Week 3 - Still Life Study #2 — Diaper Fold
Week 4 - Still Life Study #2 — Diaper Fold
Week 5 - Final Project — Still Life Study #3
Week 6 - Final Project — Block-In Development
Week 7 - Final Project — Sharpening Folds
Week 8 - Final Project — Detailing Drapery (I) Focus: Textured textiles
Week 9 - Final Project — Detailing Drapery (II)
Week 10 - Kiln Preparation & Critique

$705.00
In-Person
10 Weeks
Beginner to Intermediate

Meet Your Instructor

Michela Roman

Instructor

Michela Roman was born in Canada in 1998. She is a recent 2023 graduate from the New York Academy of Art, where she received her MFA in Sculpture and Anatomy. Over the past two years, her work has been exhibited in sixteen Juried Shows in New York City and she received eleven sponsorships/scholarships to support both her educational practice and artistic career. She is a standing fellow (2021-present) at the Newington Corpsy Foundation for the Arts located in upstate New York where she is expanding her sculptural practice to include both bronze and marble works. She is a two time recipient of the Elizabeth Greenshilds Foundation Grant from 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. Come Fall 2023, Roman’s sculpture ‘Countless’ will be on display at The Centre for War, Atrocity and Genocide in Ontario, Canada as part of their permanent collection. Her work has additionally been included in various private collections in New York, Canada and Italy. Roman was one of two recipients of the Stone Merit Award, presented by Precision Stone. It was through this residency (May 2023-June 2023) where Roman carved a personal marble sculpture in Carrara, Italy. Upon competition of this marble (Spring 2024) Roman will take place in the Marble Reveal Auction, funded by Precision Stone and Hosted by Sotheby’s (Fall 2024), marking Roman’s second appearance at Sotheby’s auction house. Fall 2024 additionally marks the competition of Roman’s personalized wine label, sponsored by Ozymandias Wines, providing the sculptor with complimentary wine for all upcoming career driven events, for the duration of her practice. She currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.