BeArtz : Artist Workshops and Residency in SW France
A thousand-year-old castle, now a space to create.
BeArtz : Artist Workshops and Residency in SW France
A thousand-year-old castle, now a space to create.

Sculpting the Head in Clay with Sharon Griffin 2026

Registration:
TBA

Workshop Dates :2026 Dates to be announced
Workshop cost: €3,400
 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: To be announced .
  • Instruction: 5 days of instruction (4 full days in the studio and 1 day drawing/study in Museum).
  • Arrival:….
  • Daily Routine:
    • Tuesday 16th: Studio Day 10am-4pm.
    • Wednesday 17th: Studio Day 10am-4pm; Evening talk/artist focus at 7pm.
    • Thursday 18th: Excursion to Bilbao Art Gallery and Museum / City visit (TBC).
    • Friday 19th: Studio Day 10am-4pm with celebration evening 7pm onwards.
    • Saturday 20th: Studio Day 10am-4pm.
  • Departure: Travel home Sunday, September 21.

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, 1 museum study day).
  • Access to an awesome studio with clay, glazes, tools, and workbenches.
  • 5 continental breakfasts (with daily coffee, tea, and water).
  • 6 light lunches.
  • 6 three-course dinners (includes wine, tea, or coffee).

What is not included:

  • Airfare, trains, or airport transfers. (Local taxi rate available: €65 from Biarritz, €25 from Orthez).
  • Travel Insurance.

Pricing

Cost: €3,400 (Retreat Fee)

Payment Schedule:

  • Deposit: 50% (€1,700) due at registration.
  • Balance: Due by …. (60 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 if the class is not full but still takes place. 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 cost of bank fees.

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