GCA Sculpture Atelier in Vanity Fair!

Abigail Tulis with her work in the sculpture studio. Photo by Jonathan Becker

 Our very own Abigail Tulis is on newstands right now in the most recent issue of Vanity Fair!  Abigail is a full time student in the GCA Sculpture Atelier.  The article, by Alex Shoumatoff, is about the history of our block - West 44th Street between 5th & 6th Avenues. 

photos of our block - W 44th St - photos by Jonathan Becker

 THE SCULPTURE ATELIER at the Grand Central Academy was developed to train a new generation of classical sculptors. The program is built on the ideas and techniques that have been central to the great tradition of sculpture that has come down to us from the ancient Athenians, the Italian Renaissance, and through to the Beaux Arts tradition of the 19th Century.

Mastery of the human figure is the goal. Emphasis on clarity of form, simplicity of action, balance and harmony, are woven through a program that includes meticulous copying of antique sculptures, rigorous study of anatomical figure structure, and extensive modeling from life.

In their years of study, our sculpture core students study cast drawing and figure drawing alongside the Water Street Atelier painting core students. The sculpture students also learn anatomy, perspective, art history, and fundamental.  For more information go to our website.

Sculptures in progress

This month I will be posting photos of the figure sculptures as they progress. These are from day 6 of the class which meets 4 hours each morning with Mason Sullivan. Students in this class are mostly painters and will spend a few months doing sculpture in the mornings to deepen their understanding of the human form.

Making plaster casts

First year students have been spending a lot of time with these feature casts - practicing drawing, modeling, block-ins & sculpture from them. Last week we took our clay sculptures we've been working on & learned how to make our own plaster molds & casts. It's more complicated than we thought! It takes some patience & precision to mix the plaster just right and make the mold before the plaster solidifies.


Carla Crawford's clay eye, with the plaster cast we've been working from next to it.


Lauren Salm making a plaster mold of her ear


Sarah Hodges plastering up her nose


Instructor Chris Waddell working with Victoria Herrera


Ashley Howell cleaning out her ear mold


Remi Cardenas & Neal Esplin removing a finished plaster mold from the armature


Me & Carla bringing back the art of knitting

Night Classes for Figure Sculpture

Night & weekend classes are offered for drawing, painting and sculpture. For more information, click HERE. To sign up, contact Justine at grandcentralacademy@gmail.com