Portrait in Clay

w/ Ritchie Velthuis
$268 Non-Members /$243 Members
One box of clay, firing and all model fees included in the price.
Attendees will need a basic pottery tool kit to get started. This can be picked up at most art supply stores. Additional tools will be discussed during the first class.

Wednesdays, October 2, 9, 16, 23, 2024
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Harcourt House Artist Run Centre
Art Education Room #2, ANNEX Building, 10211 – 112 Street, Edmonton
Please ring buzzer upon arrival

During a four-week course, participants will sculpt a portrait head from clay, using a live model as reference. Keen observation will be key to executing your sculpture accompanied by some discussion about the anatomy of the skull. The skull is the foundation of the portrait head and will give you specific landmarks and shapes that will assist you in creating a believable bust. Tool and clay techniques will also be discussed.

Ritchie Velthuis is one of the most prolific contemporary sculptors in Alberta and a well-known cultural activist. After completing the Design Arts Program at Grant MacEwan College (currently MacEwan University), Velthuis worked as a graphic designer for several years but was always drawn back to a fine art sensibility.

He has devoted the last 25 years to the exploration of sculpture in various mediums, including clay, resin, stone, cement, ice, and snow. Ritchie Velthuis is a focused and considerate artist. He has developed a repertoire of strong community-based works. This commitment was rewarded with the distinct honour of designing a “Homeless Memorial” for Edmonton in 2011, which was collaboratively created with Keith Turnbull, Mike Turnbull, and several community artists. His dedication to refining his craft was rewarded with Edmonton’s “SCTV Monument: Bob and Doug McKenzie”.

Velthuis has also received numerous prestigious awards for his ice and snow sculptures, which include People’s Choice, Artist Choice, and First Place Award in the national category of the International Snow Sculpture Event at Carnival in Québec City. His impressive body of work has been enthusiastically received among his peers and mentors and can be found in several private and public collections throughout Alberta.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Harcourt House Artist Run Centre, Annex Building, 10211 112 St NW, Edmonton, Canada