Artist Residencies & Workshops near the French Pyrenees and the Atlantic Coast
A thousand-year-old castle, now a space to create.
Artist Residencies & Workshops near the French Pyrenees and the Atlantic Coast
A thousand-year-old castle, now a space to create.

Sculpting the Head in Clay with Sharon Griffin OCT 4-10 2027

Registration:Open

Workshop Dates :2027 October 4 -10 , arrival 4 October , departure 10th.

Accomodation and Workshop cost: 4850 euros

 Level of experience: All levels (No experience with clay necessary, but preferred) Material fee: Included in workshop cost 


TO REGISTER:  please contact Magdalena Groszek at info@be-artz.com

Workshop Details

Join internationally renowned sculptor Sharon Griffin for a hands-on clay workshop exploring the use of expression within figurative ceramics. In this energetic and fun course, you will learn to ‘let go’ of preconceived ideas and re-discover your inner child while creating a series of busts.

In this workshop you will:

  • Master Fast Techniques: Be introduced to a huge range of fast making techniques to produce human features.
  • Study Facial Elements: Take part in a series of fun and energetic studies of noses, eyes, mouths, and ears to form a face.
  • Experiment with Expression: Enjoy experimenting and playing with expression using simple and effective gestural marks with minimal use of tools.
  • Create a Bust: Make a semi-life-sized clay bust in just a few hours from start to finish without the use of an armature.
  • Take Home Art: At the end of this week, you will come away with a minimum of one finished piece of work in clay (this will be sent out to you after the course is completed).

Please note: This workshop will not be focused on a detailed study of the anatomy of the face. It is aimed at capturing the emotion, feeling, and character of the human face with references taken from composite images.

Goals

  1. Learn how to create a life-sized clay bust from start to finish in just 5 days.
  2. Explore fast, playful making techniques using slabs of clay.
  3. Be inspired by the French medieval townscape and local surroundings to help tell a story within your clay sculpture.
  4. Immerse yourself in a highly creative workshop and allow yourself to ‘play’!

Schedule

Details:

  • Dates: 4 October 2027-10 October 2027.
  • Instruction: 5 days of instruction (4 full days in the studio and 1 day drawing/study ).
  • Arrival:….
  • Daily Routine:
    • Tuesday : Studio Day 10am-4pm.
    • Wednesday: Studio Day 10am-4pm; Evening talk/artist focus at 7pm.
    • Thursday : Excursion to Caves.
    • Friday : Studio Day 10am-4pm with celebration evening 7pm onwards.
    • Saturday : Studio Day 10am-4pm.
  • Departure: Travel home Sunday,.

What is included:

  • Lodging in a beautiful private room in the 1,000-year-old stone castle (where the workshop takes place).
  • Welcome appetizers and drinks.
  • 5 days of instruction (4 studio days, 1study day).
  • Access to an awesome studio with clay, glazes, tools, and workbenches.
  • 5 continental breakfasts (with daily coffee, tea, and water).
  • 5 light lunches.
  • 3 three-course dinners (includes wine, tea, or coffee).

What is not included:

  • Airfare, trains, or airport transfers. (Local taxi rate available: €70 from Biarritz, €30 from Orthez).
  • Travel Insurance. Day trip, outside restaurants.

Pricing

Cost: €4850(Accomodation at BeArtz and teaching Fee)

Payment Schedule:

  • Deposit: 50% (€) due at registration.
  • Balance: Due by 6 July 2027 (90 days before the class).

Payment Methods:

  • Bank transfer: Preferred (in Euros, Pounds, Dollars, or other currencies).
  • Credit card / Stripe / PayPal: Available (Fees apply, approx. 5%).

Cancellation & Insurance: IMPORTANT. There is no refund for the deposit. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance so that you are covered if you have to cancel for any reason. If the class is full with a waiting list, or if you can find a replacement for your spot, Be-artz will refund less the administrative cost.

Meet Your Instructor: Sharon Griffin

Sharon Griffin is a figurative artist based in Shropshire, UK, who specializes in ceramic sculpture directly inspired by the woodland where she often explores places to ‘breathe.’ She uses the human figure to help communicate a sense of deeper meaning within humankind and her own experience.

Her work is highly expressive, utilizing found clays, oxides, and glazes to work into the clay as a 3D canvas. Sharon treats clay as a vehicle for storytelling, capturing gesture, vulnerability, and strength through fast, intuitive marks. She is a Selected Member of the Royal Society of Sculptors (MRSS) and the Craft Potters Association (CPA), and her work is exhibited in galleries and museums internationally.

TO REGISTER: please contact Magdalena Groszek at info@be-artz.com

Cancellation insurance – where to find it: BeArtz does not arrange insurance. Because the deposit is non-refundable, we strongly recommend cancellation insurance, taken out in your own country soon after paying your deposit (many policies must be bought within 14–21 days). USA: “Cancel For Any Reason” (CFAR) cover, e.g. via Squaremouth or InsureMyTrip. UK: Trawick Safe Travels CFAR, or standard cancellation cover. Netherlands / Belgium: an annuleringsverzekering, or an “annuleren om welke reden dan ook” option. France: an assurance annulation toutes causes. Please check that the policy covers a course or workshop booking.

Assurance annulation – où la trouver : BeArtz ne propose pas d’assurance. L’acompte n’étant pas remboursable, nous vous recommandons vivement une assurance annulation, souscrite dans votre pays peu après le versement de l’acompte (beaucoup de contrats doivent être pris dans les 14 à 21 jours). États-Unis : garantie « Cancel For Any Reason » (CFAR), par ex. via Squaremouth ou InsureMyTrip. Royaume-Uni : Trawick Safe Travels CFAR, ou une assurance annulation classique. Pays-Bas / Belgique : une annuleringsverzekering, ou l’option « annuleren om welke reden dan ook ». France : une assurance annulation toutes causes. Vérifiez que le contrat couvre bien l’inscription à un stage.

Photos & video: During workshops and residencies we take photos and short videos of the studios, meals and outings, which may appear on our website, newsletter and social media. By registering, you agree to this. If you’d prefer not to appear, just let us know: we’ll make sure you can’t be recognised in anything we publish, and we’ll remove any image of you on request.

Photos et vidéos : Pendant les stages et résidences, nous prenons des photos et de courtes vidéos des ateliers, des repas et des sorties, susceptibles d’être publiées sur notre site, notre lettre d’information et nos réseaux sociaux. En vous inscrivant, vous acceptez cette utilisation. Si vous préférez ne pas apparaître, il suffit de nous le dire : vous ne serez pas reconnaissable sur nos publications, et nous retirerons toute image de vous sur simple demande.