In this lesson, Judy Fox transitions from the armature-based bust to a hand-built ceramic bust of the same model. You will learn how to capture reliable photo reference, take proportional measurements to correct for camera distortion, and use calipers to maintain consistent scale as you build. Judy then rolls even slabs and constructs the bust in short lifts, giving the clay time to firm between stages to support the developing form. The lesson ends with useful storage methods to protect the structure while keeping the working edge usable.

This lesson belongs to Ceramic Portrait Sculpting Part 2: Pinch Pot Bust. In this 8-week course, sculptor Judy Fox guides you through building and finishing a hand-built ceramic portrait bust using photo reference, proportional measurement, and a controlled, step-by-step construction process. You will learn how to capture reliable reference, use calipers to maintain scale, and work in timed stages so the clay firms between lifts and remains structurally sound. As the bust develops, Judy demonstrates how to check proportion and placement through cross sections, silhouette, and key landmarks, refining the shoulders, neck, and head before closing the form with clean joins and thickness control.

The second half of the course shifts into rendering and refinement. You will learn how to correct cross-contours from higher and lower angle photos, refine features as connected volumes, clarify ear structure, and unify the surface without losing the underlying planes. By the end, you will have a completed bust and a repeatable process for building and refining future portrait sculptures.