
The creative process in art.
For many artists, the creative process is part ritual, part chaos. When you need a fresh idea and don’t know where to begin, the best thing you can do is gather information.
Javier Murcia is a professional sculptor with nearly 30 years of experience in traditional sculpture and the film industry. Trained in classic techniques, he studied fine arts at university while also deepening his knowledge of human anatomy through courses at the medical school — a rare combination that shaped his distinctive approach to figure sculpting in clay.
Over the years, Javier has worked across a wide range of materials, formats, and digital technologies. He spent more than five years at the world-renowned Weta Workshop, contributing to major film productions and museum exhibitions. His deep understanding of human anatomy and sculptural technique allows him to create figures with realism, emotion, and life.
If you’re looking to learn clay figure sculpting, Javier offers online courses and in-person workshops designed to build a strong foundation in structure, gesture, and form. His step-by-step teaching approach helps students at all levels refine their skills and bring their sculptures to life.
We cover a wide range of topics — from hands-on craft like making your own tools and plasticine, to sculpting techniques, behind-the-scenes insights into our work processes, and personal experiences from the field.
For many artists, the creative process is part ritual, part chaos. When you need a fresh idea and don’t know where to begin, the best thing you can do is gather information.
This is the first stage in which sculptor Javier Murcia brings to life the figure of Paul Stanley for a new line of collectibles produced by Weta Workshop.
When approaching any part of the figure, one of the most important things is the structure. This is one of the basic and it is at the core of everything.
To help you get started, I’ve put together a video tutorial walking through the entire process — step by step — to build an armature for a 1:4 scale figure.
We move a step further—from basic structure to simplified anatomy. This phase is all about translating anatomy into readable forms.
If you’re a sculptor or just starting out with clay modeling, having the right tools can make a big difference. But did you know you can create your own sculpting tools using simple materials like brass tubes and guitar strings?
When we build a figure, it’s natural to pour most of our energy into the areas we use most to interact with the world: the face, the hands, the body language. These are the tools we rely on to express emotion and connect with others. So we give them the majority of our attention. But the legs… they often get left for last…
Sculpture studio © 2025. Javier Murcia.
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martial pagesTaking a course with Javier was exactly what I needed in support to my saturday’s sculpting practices. We had time to go deep into anatomy and were provided all the tools by Javier, making the most of his own studies and anatomical references, for a better and easier understanding of it. I was able to strengthen my skills, knowledge and learnt so much more! Always inspiring to see Javier’s dedication to his craft and his work ethic.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Barry KeenanJust finished the 12 week Figure Écorché course, and I have learnt a lot! The crazy detail is there for advanced students, but do not be daunted if you have not taken the time to study anatomy before – Javier repeats the main skeleton landmarks often and examples of the simplified form are there so you can get a solid foundation. It is a privilege to have access to this level of teaching locally.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. M SurcoufI attended a 5-day Figure with Model workshop with Javier. This is my second workshop with Javier, and this one was equally as good as the first, if not better (because it was longer). Javier communicates his depth of anatomical knowledge through a combination of written handouts, theory, and more often (and more importantly), with hands-on demonstrations which serve to not only instruct, but to inspire. Javier’s workshops are fantastic. They are intensely focused and good fun at the same time. I feel like I’ve expand my understanding of how to work with clay and how the body works. I highly recommend Javier’s courses to anyone who’s interested.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Matthew Tan (X32 Lapis)I did a 2 Day Head Study with Javier. He was a great teacher to work with and helpful with the knowledge. Javier even went the extra mile for many of us when some of us forgot to bring plastic bags he told us no to worry that when we leave for the day he would go buy us plastic bags and made sure the clay were in workable condition for us to continue the next day. I would recommend Javier for people of all levels I myself went as a Beginner and thoroughly enjoyed my time. The interaction with other students was great too as we all chased our artistic endeavors together.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Adrian BosiI did a human figure workshop with Javier in Queenstown and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone either wanting to learn the basics or wanting to level up their skills to the next level. He's very knowledgeable of anatomy and gives you the tools to capture it in the sculpture, while also explaining the whys and the hows. The classes had the perfect blend of theory and practice (with a killer playlist in the background) and he was happy to answer any questions and provide info and tips all along. I only wish I could've also done the human head workshop as well.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. McLeod FamilyJavier recently came to Queenstown and held a couple of workshops. I attended the Simplified Figure Workshop- it was intense, but even as a beginner I coped because the information Javier imparted was supported by the armature (a tangible figure), thorough explanations supported by literature with diagrams, and demonstrations on how the body moves, where the center line falls and how it balances. I have learned so much that I can apply to my pottery future efforts. Speaking to other attendees- everyone enjoyed themselves and were impressed at what they achieved under Javier's tutelage. If you worry that your skills are not good enough to attend- don't, Javier is a good teacher. Just do it!Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Kate RossJavier’s head study workshop was a fantastic two day intensive on creating a realistic sculptural work in clay. Learned a huge amount about the material and enjoyed a very different process from my usual way of working.Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
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