sculpting the Torso: Anatomy, Structure & Form

Saturdays 1:30 - 4:30 pm (3 hours)

6 classes: $550 (all supplies included)

Starts May 23, 2026

Instructor:

Kaelin Palcu

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Class Description:


This 6-week sculpture course is dedicated entirely to the torso. Working at half-life scale, students will develop a deeper understanding of proportion, mass, and anatomical structure through sustained study from life.

Participants will work from both female and male models over the duration of the course, gaining exposure to different body types and structural rhythms. The focus is on clarity: organizing the ribcage and pelvis, understanding their relationship, and building the torso from the inside outward.

The course emphasizes:

  • Structural block-in and proportional accuracy

  • Major masses of the ribcage and pelvis

  • Skeletal landmarks and surface form

  • Planes of the abdomen, back, and thorax

  • Compression, tilt, and directional force

  • Translating live observation into three-dimensional form

Early sessions focus on establishing primary masses and spatial relationships. As the weeks progress, students will examine skeletal structure and major muscle groups, refining their understanding of how form wraps, overlaps, and connects.

The goal is not simply to complete a finished torso, but to build a clear working knowledge of its architecture. Through guided demonstrations and individual feedback, students will strengthen their ability to move between observation and construction, developing structural confidence that supports all future figurative work.