One Week Holiday Course | Sculpting a Canine

From Velázquez’s shadowed studies to Rembrandt Bugatti’s dynamic compositions and Nicola Hicks’s raw expressions of animal spirit, the dog has long held a powerful place in art history. Beyond symbolism or spectacle, dogs are for many of us beloved companions—full of character, emotion and presence. 

This five-day sculpture course offers a practical and expressive approach to sculpting dogs. Working from a live canine model and studying key art historical examples, students will begin with focused drawings before moving into wax sculpture. 

Through close observation and anatomical study, you will learn to build a solid armature, understand structural form, and develop the ability to sculpt both physical detail and emotional expression. The course is designed to help you see beyond the surface, capturing not just the shape of the dog, but its unique personality and the relationship we hold with this emotive subject.