In this lesson, Judy Fox shifts from upper torso structure to the neck and the first head placement decisions. You will learn how to check symmetry, confirm neck width, and use photo references to correct the outline from multiple views. Judy develops the neck tilt and key landmarks, then establishes head height and angle while blocking in the underside of the jaw and cutting the jawline to clarify structure. She also emphasizes the importance of firming time for clean joins and overall accuracy.

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.