Masterclass: Glass to Life – Sculpting the Human Form – John Moran
Course Outline
Bring the human form to life in glass on this four-day hands-on masterclass with John Moran. Explore solid hot sculpting and sculpting outside the bubble to create convincing, lifelike forms, from individual anatomical features to more complex figurative work. Learn how to develop form, proportion, detail and realism with a combination of solid sculpting, hot-torch techniques and the use of colour. John will demonstrate how familiar glassblowing skills can be adapted and combined for figurative sculpture, sharing the techniques and problem-solving approaches behind his own work.
Throughout the masterclass, the emphasis will be on developing your own sculpting vocabulary rather than simply copying a prescribed method. Learn to plan a piece while remaining responsive to the constantly changing material, making creative and technical decisions in the heat of the moment. Short demonstrations and supported hands-on sessions will build towards longer, more involved demonstrations, giving you the opportunity to work alongside John, ask questions and gain individual guidance as you develop your skills and ideas.
Day 1 – Torso and Eyes
Begin with the fundamentals of solid hot-glass sculpting, focusing on the torso and working from life. Following John’s morning demonstration, put the techniques into practice with assisted studio time. In the afternoon, explore the challenge of creating a realistic eye through demonstration and further supported making.
Day 2 – Hands, Torchwork and Colour
Explore the complex forms of the human hand and learn how John approaches sculpting them in hot glass. The demonstration will also introduce hot-torch techniques and colour application, looking at how colour can be combined and controlled to create convincing detail. The afternoon will be dedicated to assisted practical work.
Day 3 – Sculpting the Head
Follow the creation of a glass head through an extended, in-depth demonstration. John will work with the group throughout the day, exploring proportion, form and detail while explaining the technical choices, problem-solving and spontaneous decisions involved as the sculpture develops.
Day 4 – Assembly
Bring the different elements of figurative sculpture together. John will demonstrate how to assemble the head, neck and shoulders, exploring the practical challenges of joining and positioning complex hot-glass forms. The afternoon provides further assisted studio time to consolidate and develop techniques explored throughout the masterclass.
Profile - John Moran
John Moran is an internationally recognised glass and mixed-media artist known for his remarkably lifelike figurative sculpture and narrative approach to glass. Working primarily in hot glass, he combines highly skilled hot sculpting with found objects and mixed media to create works that explore contemporary culture, identity and the human condition.
Originally from Philadelphia and now based in Ghent, Belgium, John has worked with glass for more than 25 years. He holds a BFA from Tyler School of Art, an MFA from Illinois State University and a PhD from the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław, Poland. His work has been exhibited extensively across Europe and the United States. www.backdoorart.com
In 2022, John won Season 3 of Netflix’s Blown Away, where his ambitious sculptural work and technical skill took him through to the final. His win included a residency at the Corning Museum of Glass, where he subsequently worked with the museum’s hot glass team to develop his figurative work.
At the heart of John’s practice is an exceptional ability to manipulateglass into expressive, recognisable human forms. His work combines technical precision with experimentation, storytelling and a willingness to push what can be achieved with the material.