Bas-Relief Sculpture: Design, Sculpting & Casting

Don't miss this fantastic 5-week sculpting course with David Hunwick at our wonderful Arts Centre by the sea! This hands-on course introduces students to the art of bas-relief sculpture, from concept and design through to mold making and casting. Students will choose their own reference image and develop an original relief sculpture while learning the principles of form, depth, composition, and light. During the final classes, students will create a one-piece mold and produce a cast of their finished work to take home. The first 3 sessions would focus on sculpting the bas-relief. Class 4 & 5 would focus on creating a simple mold and making a plaster/cement cast of the original. The final class will cover finishing and patinas. LEVEL: Beginner–Intermediate ​ The fee of $320 per person covers your admission to ALL FIVE CLASSES in this workshop series​ over consecutive weeks​ on the following dates: • ​W​ednesday, ​October ​14​, 2026, from ​1​-5pm • W​ednesday, ​October ​21, 2026, from ​1​-5pm​​ • W​ednesday, ​October ​28, 2026, from ​1​-5pm​​ • ​W​ednesday, ​​November 4, 2026, from ​1​-5pm​ • ​W​ednesday, ​​November ​11​, 2026, from ​1​-5pm SUPPLY LIST • Sculpting tools (Optional): Clay tools can be loaned to students, however if you have your own clay tools that you like to use please bring them along; • Spray bottle (Optional); • Apron or protective clothing; • Plastic bag or container for storing clay between classes; • Small mirror for observing facial anatomy (Optional); and • Notebook or sketchbook for anatomical notes and sketches. For an additional $120 per person fee payable in cash on the first day of class, the instructor will provide all other supplies needed, including: • Clay: Water-based sculpting clay (recommended), approximately 8-10lb per student; • Sculpting Board: Wooden or plastic board - Approximate size 10–12 inches square; • Basic Sculpting Tools: Loop tools (small and medium), wooden modelling tools, metal sculpting tools; • Clay Cutter: Wire clay cutter; • Water Spray Bottle: Small spray bottles to keep clay moist during sculpting; • Small sponge for smoothing clay; • Soft brush for refining details; • Molding & casting materials; and • Bucket and paper towels for cleaning hands and clay tools. ABOUT THE ARTIST David Hunwick is a British-Canadian sculptor whose work explores the expressive potential of the human fi gure and the symbolic power of animal forms. Working across clay, bronze, resin, and mixed media, Hunwick’s sculptures combine classical training with a contemporary sensibility, often investigating themes of movement, myth, and the relationship between human and animal worlds. Hunwick’s sculptural practice is rooted in a deep engagement with traditional figurative sculpture. His work frequently draws upon classical European atelier traditions while embracing experimental processes and materials. Known for sculptures such as The Kiss, Flight, and a series of animal forms including hares, crows, and salmon, Hunwick’s work balances anatomical structure with expressive gesture, seeking to capture moments of transformation, tension, and quiet narrative. His sculptures have been exhibited internationally and across Canada and the United Kingdom. Selected exhibitions include the Sooke Fine Art Show, the SPAC Spring Show, the VISG Annual Show, and the Penticton Sculpture Walk, where his work has been installed in public space. In 2025 his sculpture The Kiss was featured in the Oak Bay Sculpture Walk, where it received the People’s Choice Award. Hunwick’s work has also been shown in the United Kingdom, including exhibitions associated with the Royal Scottish Academy and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and he was invited to participate in the Fivizzano Art Festival Symposium in Tuscany. Alongside his studio practice, Hunwick is an active educator and mentor in the fi eld of sculpture. He teaches fi gurative sculpture and drawing through independent workshops and international programmes, including the I Can Sculpt workshops in Pietrasanta, Italy — the historic centre of marble carving — where he collaborates with Italian masters and contemporary sculptors in an atelier environment devoted to classical training and contemporary exploration. He also leads drawing and sketching programmes such as I Can Sketch - Prague, as well as studio courses in Canada. Hunwick’s work refl ects a continuing dialogue between classical sculptural traditions and contemporary expression. Through both his teaching and artistic practice, he is committed to sustaining the craft of fi gurative sculpture while encouraging new generations of artists to engage with its evolving possibilities. www.davidhunwick.com CLASS LOCATION This workshop is hosted by the Arts & Culture Colwood Society at the Goldfinch Arts Centre, a bright & modern gallery space that looks out to the Esquimalt Lagoon and the Colwood Waterfront beyond, where you will be surrounded by original artwork by local artists in the Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA) Fall Exhibition which runs from October 1-18, followed by A Well Clayed Table, which runs from October 22 through November 15. Please visit our website for more details on this and other upcoming events: www.artsandculturecolwood.ca. Class size limit: 12 people Ticket sales end on Wednesday, October 7th at 2pm