JAMES ORT
A RETURN TO THE JUNGLE: Expressive & Dynamic Ceramic Animals
September 20-27, 2026
Take a deep dive into learning how to make clay animals with James Ort. Using a contemporary technique that is loose, expressive, and breaks all the rules, this will be an intense, and yet, intensely fun course! Heralding from the United Kingdom, James Ort has been teaching for years now. He specializes in a form of contemporary clay modeling which pushes clay to its limits. The technique is fast, easy to learn, and adaptable.
Over the duration of the course, you will create three sculptural works: an expressive animal head, a seated or reclined animal form, and a perched bird. James will be given a series of demonstrations that show you the key stages and principles of the technique. The rest of the time will be spent making your own pieces, with James offering guidance and support every step of the way. Once completed, your masterpieces will be dried out and bisqued. The final firing will bring your pieces to life with colour, by the use of an array of oxides, underglazes, and a tiny bit of transparent glaze for the eyes.
TUITION: USD $2000 inclusive of all studio materials, glazes and firings, catered lunches, welcome dinner, and excursions around the island. We will assist in making recommendations for bookings for nearby hotels, bungalows or home-stays in convenient proximity to Gaya studio (accommodation is not included in tuition).
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE - JAMES ORT
Sunday, September 20: Moksa Restaurant
6:00pm Welcome dinner. With our bellies full and our heart's content, we can spend time getting to know each person’s creative background and what our expectations are for the course ahead.
Monday, September 21: Portrait Heads
GCAC
We will start the day with a brief presentation by James Ort about his work and career, both as wildlife artist and tutor. James will give an overview of the technique and we will do a bit of sketching to get to know our chosen subjects of the day a bit better. No drawing skills are necessary at all, and the results do not matter. The class will begin learning to sculpt wall-mounted bird or mammal heads. James will give a series of demonstrations to help you on your way, plus individual guidance wherever needed.
12:30 Lunch family style
The rest of the day will be spent with you working on your pieces, with James on hand to prod you in the right direction where needed.
Tuesday, September 22: Reclined or Seated Animals
GCACWe made a head on day one, on day two we will be sculpting the whole body. Today’s sculptures will be a reclined or seated animal. James will give a demonstration in the morning, showing students how to understand what is happening with the subject’s anatomy and how to capture it in clay. You will get more of a challenge if you make a mammal on this day, rather than a bird. Seated animals are generally more of a challanged then a reclined or lying animal, but don’t let that put you off!
12:30 Lunch family style
The rest of the day will be spent with you working on your pieces, with James on hand to prod you in the right direction where needed.
Wednesday, September 23: Perched Birds
GCACMaking birds is all about observation. Though they may look easier forms to capture in clay than mammals, this is not the case. Proportion and tight observations are the keys to stopping your hawk from becoming a pigeon! James will show how to construct in a refined way, which doesn’t look overlabored. As always, demonstrations along the way with plenty of time to make your pieces.
NB – James stipulates that students make perched birds. Birds in flight can be done, but given that we just have a day, there will not be the time in this case. Rest assured; James will talk through how to make flying birds, so that you can make them at home if desired.
12:30 Lunch family style
The afternoon will be spent with you working on your pieces and James will show students how to create the wire feet that will be glued in place, post final firing.
Thursday, September 24:
Anywhere in Bali..Excursion day
Friday, September 25:
GCACThe waiting is over! We can now see whether the kiln Gods have shone down upon us. The morning will be spent unloading the kiln, and repairing any broken bits with glue so that they are ready to have colour added to them.
James will give a detailed demonstration and talk about how to best apply underglaze in a way that is both loose and expressive.
12:30 Lunch family style
The rest of the day will be spent with you glazing on your three pieces, with James on hand to prod you in the right direction where needed. All pieces will be finished by end of day and be ready to load into the final firing.
Saturday, September 26:
GCACWith the pieces loaded into the kiln, we can all relax. Either we take it easy or James does a long demo, making a sculpture from start to finish, not rushing. This would most likely be a seated animal.
12:30 Lunch family style
Rest of day OFF
Sunday, September 27:
GCACKiln unloading; repairing sculpture;
12:30 Lunch family style
Final discussion; packing & departure.
Details of schedule may be subject to change, but overall content will remain constant.