SIMON KOGAN
FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING

Simon Kogan
MENTORING MEMBERSHIP

$895 USD PER YEAR
(Billed annually, renews once per year)
or
$85 USD PER MONTH
(Month-to-month, cancel/pause anytime)

ENROLLMENT OPENS
MARCH 10, 2026
(Be First in Line — Reserve Your Spot)

WHAT’S INSIDE 

This membership gives you full access to Simon Kogan’s, “Figuratively Speaking” sculpture course, along with ongoing mentoring designed to help you understand the figure structurally, simplify it into clear volumes, and build sculpture from the inside out.

Whether you are brand new to sculpting, developing beyond the beginner stage, or already experienced, Simon guides you to work with a plan and a purpose—while maintaining the looseness and vitality of the figure. If you feel overwhelmed by anatomy, unsure where to begin, or constantly chasing surface detail without confidence in the structure underneath, you’re not alone. Many sculptors struggle because they try to “finish” a figure before they understand how it stands, where the weight drops, or how the parts relate in space.

Simon teaches sculpture as a clear, block-based, traceable system. The chest is a block. The pelvis is a block. The arm is a two-by-four. The forearm is another two-by-four. The foot is a structural form with an arch, a heel, and specific points of contact with the ground. When you can locate these parts—when you know where they are in space and how they relate—you stop guessing. You’re no longer hunting for anatomy. You understand position, orientation, and relationship.

Anatomy in this course is approached compositionally. It is about location, direction, and structure—not memorizing every muscle. Biceps belong to the front plane; triceps belong to the back. The elbow moves up and down—nothing more. The forearm torques because one bone rotates and the other does not. The foot stands on specific structural points, and the direction of force from the leg determines how the entire figure carries weight. When these principles are clear, the form becomes logical and dependable.

You will learn how to break the figure into understandable blocks, see how the pelvis and chest oppose and respond to one another, and use the plumb line to establish balance and weight. You’ll build custom armatures designed specifically for your sculpture—never generic supports that fight the pose. You’ll understand joints as simple mechanical systems and trace how the weight travels from the sternum down into the standing foot. Through drawing and investigation, you will exaggerate structure intentionally to claim ownership of the character of the pose.

This unorthodox course explores the entire process of creating a figure in clay—from before you even begin sculpting, through building the armature, establishing structure, developing mass and energy, and understanding when to stop. Form and structure, mass and movement, mood and compression, composition and design, speed and pace, sculpting materials and tools—it is all covered in depth.

Drawing is used as a tool for understanding, not decoration. You investigate the pose, clarify the spatial relationships, and then build from that knowledge. Materials—wax, oil clay, water clay—are chosen for their plasticity and responsiveness, but the principle remains constant: structure first, clarity first.

This is not about copying anatomy or creating decorative surface. It is about understanding how the figure bends, compresses, torques, and stands. When structure is clear, expression follows naturally.

There is no fixed timeline. You can revisit lessons.Growth comes through repetition, observation, and refining your ability to see spatial relationships accurately.

Your access to Simon’s mentoring and course materials continues as long as you remain an active member through a yearly or monthly membership option.

Students stop feeling lost in anatomy. They stop chasing surface detail. They begin to see structure everywhere. And over time, sculpting becomes less about frustration and more about clarity, confidence, and control grounded in principle.

MODULE 1 | Preparations for the beginning

The first module is explaining how much work is to be done before you begin anything. From sketching, and analyzing photographs, to the choice of the base and clay, to the actual sculpting, and finally, the decision when to stop. All those steps unfold before you simplify your way to freedom when sculpting.

MODULE 2 | How to see the hidden structure in any figure

The second module is a visual guide to seeing, drawing, and constructing your sculpture. We will employ the " box " concept to locate and shape the figure in space.  The hidden structure becomes obvious and will guide you to the understanding of any figure in any position.

MODULE 3 | MECHANICS OF HUMAN ANATOMY

The third module is devoted to anatomy. We will draw and sculpt models for each body part, not as medical dissection, but as a 3-dimensional mechanical design. It will reveal why we move the way we do. The function will find its form.

MODULE 4 | HOW TO SEE WHAT MATTERS

The fourth module is a ride on all the knowledge we accumulated through the course. We will walk through the whole process of seeing the figure, analyzing, building the custom armature, sculpting, and following the bliss while doing it. You will see me doing what I preach. And after the show, I will open my treasure chest and introduce you to my tools of the trade - concepts, no secrets! 

SUGGESTED SUPPLY LIST

{Regardless of whether you engage in drawing, painting, or sculpting figures, Simon's course is designed to equip you with essential techniques and anatomy skills that are indispensable for EVERY figurative artist.}

BONUS | SCULPTING THE PORTRAIT

Only students in this course receive this special bonus video - it’s not available for purchase anywhere.

In this 36-minute never-before-seen video, Simon shares his step-by-step process & techniques for sculpting a human head. You'll see how he begins his thought process, what he looks for & how he quickly sculpts proportions to make a compelling, energized composition.

You can download and save this video in a safe place. It's yours to keep as a takeaway when your course access ends.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Whether you are just beginning, developing your skills, or already experienced, this course is structured to help you sculpt with clarity, structure, and intention. The focus is not on surface imitation, but on understanding how the figure stands, bends, carries weight, and occupies space. Everything in the membership is built to strengthen your ability to see the figure as an organized structure of relationships rather than a collection of parts.

• Ongoing Mentoring with Simon Kogan

  This is not a short-term workshop or a one-time class. Mentoring is delivered through an ongoing membership, giving you continued access to Simon’s structural approach to figure sculpture for as long as you remain enrolled.

  The emphasis is always on understanding the function of the form. You are not there to copy anatomy muscle by muscle. You are there to understand where things are, how they relate, and how weight travels through the structure. Simon repeatedly returns to simple, traceable principles: the chest is a block, the pelvis is a block, the arm is a two-by-four, the forearm is another two-by-four set at ninety degrees. The elbow moves in one direction. The forearm torques because one bone rotates and the other does not. The foot stands on specific structural points, and the direction of force from the leg determines how the entire figure behaves.

  This membership exists to address common struggles directly. If you feel lost in anatomy, unsure how to begin an armature, or overwhelmed by complexity, Simon breaks the figure into manageable systems. You learn to establish balance with a plumb line, to exaggerate structure intentionally to understand character, to build custom armatures that serve the pose, and to maintain looseness without losing clarity. Structure comes first; expressiveness grows from that foundation.

• Learn at Your Own Pace

  All instruction is delivered through recorded demonstrations and lectures, allowing you to study when and where it suits you. You can revisit explanations of block construction, review how weight drops from the sternum into the standing foot, study the mechanics of joints, or return to discussions on materials such as wax, oil clay, and water clay.

  Because access remains active while your membership is active, your learning unfolds alongside your sculpting practice. There is no fixed deadline and no pressure to rush. Growth comes through repetition, observation, exaggeration, correction, and refinement of spatial understanding.

• Over-the-Shoulder Demonstrations

  You gain access to 20 hours of in-depth sculpture and drawing demonstrations. You observe Simon thinking through the process in real time—from drawing investigations to armature construction to building mass in clay. He does not begin with detail. He begins with position, direction, and relationship in space. You see how the pelvis drops, how the chest opposes it, how the knee sits behind the hip, and how the head shifts to carry character.

  As he works, he adjusts proportions, exaggerates tilts, pushes weight further into the standing leg, and clarifies how blocks turn in space. You see not just the result, but the reasoning behind each movement. Corrections are part of the process. Volumes are rearranged. Relationships are clarified. The sculpture develops through structural decisions, not decoration.

• Ongoing Additions & Growing Library

  As a member, you gain access to an expanding library of lessons covering the core systems of figure sculpture. Topics include block construction of the torso, mechanics of the elbow and forearm, structural understanding of the foot and arch, custom armature design, material selection, exaggeration for character, and the relationship between composition and structure.

  All previously released material remains available while you are enrolled. This growing archive allows you to revisit key principles as your understanding deepens and your ability to see spatial relationships becomes more precise.

• A Private, Focused Community — No Social Media

  The membership includes access to a private space designed for serious sculptors who want thoughtful development without distraction. The focus remains on structure, clarity, and growth.

  Here, you’ll connect with Simon and fellow members. You can share your work, discuss structural challenges, and engage with others who are learning to see the figure as a system of relationships in space. The goal is not surface polish, but a deeper understanding of sculpting the form.
  

• Community Guidance Led by SIMON

  As part of the membership, you gain insight into how an experienced sculptor diagnoses structural issues. You see how imbalance begins at the base, how unclear relationships between chest and pelvis weaken the pose, how joints must function simply, and how exaggeration can clarify character rather than distort it.

  The purpose is not simply feedback, but access to Simon’s way of thinking—the disciplined, structural reasoning that turns confusion into clarity. Over time, this approach becomes part of your own process.
  

• AI-Powered Course Search

  The course includes an AI-powered search tool built entirely from Simon’s own lectures and demonstrations. When you ask a question, the system locates the exact portion of the course where that principle is discussed.

  You can immediately revisit explanations on armature construction, block relationships, joint mechanics, or structural exaggeration—allowing you to move directly to the concept you need without searching through hours of material.

• Extensive Archive of Past Critiques

  Members receive access to an archive of recorded sessions addressing common sculptural challenges. These sessions explore issues such as unclear weight distribution, weak structural relationships, overcomplicated anatomy, misplaced joints, and armatures that fight the pose.

  By observing Simon address structural problems in real time, you sharpen your eye. You begin to recognize imbalance earlier, simplify more confidently, and approach the figure with greater control.

  Over time, something shifts. The figure is no longer complicated. It is no longer intimidating. You stop chasing muscles and start seeing structure. You stop guessing and start knowing where things are. The pelvis drops. The chest responds. The weight finds the standing foot. The form makes sense.

  Sculpting becomes clear.

  And when the structure is clear, you are free — free to exaggerate, to push character, to search for mood and movement without losing control. The figure stands because you understand why it stands.

  That confidence is not decoration. It is earned through seeing. And once you see it, you cannot unsee it!

DISCOVER WHY THIS COURSE IS DIFFERENT!

This is mentoring for sculptors who are serious about understanding the figure — not just staying busy moving clay around.

If you are tired of sculptures that feel unstable, stiff, overworked, or unclear… if anatomy feels complicated and you are never quite sure where to begin… if you sense you are capable of more but lack a dependable structural system… this is where that changes.

This membership is built around disciplined structural thinking. You are not taught to chase muscles or decorate surface. You are taught to understand position, relationship, and weight. The chest is a block. The pelvis is a block. The arm is a two-by-four. The elbow moves in one direction. The forearm torques because one bone rotates and the other does not. The foot stands on specific structural points, and the entire figure organizes itself around how weight travels into the standing leg.

You will not be collecting unnecessary complexity or temporary inspiration. You will be building real strength — clarity of structure, confidence in armature construction, understanding of joint mechanics, awareness of balance through the plumb line, and the ability to exaggerate intentionally without losing control. Over time, your decisions become simpler. Your corrections become smaller. The figure begins to feel organized, grounded, and alive.

Because this is membership-based mentoring, you are not pressured to rush through material before access disappears. You can revisit lessons on block construction, rewatch demonstrations on weight distribution, review foot mechanics, or study the relationship between pelvis and chest as often as needed. There is no expiration date. Your understanding deepens at the pace of your own practice.

If you want lasting improvement — the kind that shows up every time you build an armature, every time you place weight into a standing foot, every time you turn a block in space — this is where you begin.

And once you understand why the figure stands, bends, and holds together, sculpting stops feeling uncertain. It becomes clear.

Simon Kogan
MENTORING MEMBERSHIP

$895 USD PER YEAR
(Billed annually, renews once per year)
or
$85 USD PER MONTH
(Month-to-month, cancel/pause anytime)

ENROLLMENT OPENS
MARCH 10, 2026
(Be First in Line — Reserve Your Spot)