Forensic Art: Forensic Facial Reconstruction Sculpture
with Karen T. Taylor
Karen T. Taylor teaches several identification-related forensic art workshops at FACTS, both drawing and sculpture. Courses offered vary year to year. See “Workshops” for specific classes and times scheduled.
March 4-8, 2024
Attendees for the week of this forensic sculpture workshop will select one of two options: either the Basic or the Master Facial Reconstruction Sculpture programs, which will be held jointly. You should have previously taken a basic forensic sculpture workshop if you select the Master option. Many attendees opt to return for repeat instruction to hone their skills and in order to simulate more actual case experience using a different unique individual skull. Forensic Sculpture technique and accuracy are best refined through doing multiple cases, seeing life photos of the individual and carefully comparing and assessing your work.
Instructor - Karen T. Taylor
Karen T. Taylor is a portrait artist who worked as a forensic artist for 18 years at the Texas Department of Public Safety in Austin, Texas. She attended the School of Fine Arts at the University of Texas and the Chelsea School of Fine Art in London, where she was also a freelance portrait sculptor for Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. Her crime-fighting artwork for law enforcement agencies and FOX television's America's Most Wanted has involved a variety of art services to aid in the apprehension and conviction of criminal offenders or promote the identification of unknown deceased persons. Her work has been featured on FOX, ABC, CBS, CNN, Court TV, the Discovery Channel, The History Channel, Telemundo and the BBC. Popular CBS drama CSI: created a forensic artist character based on Karen and her artwork and hands have appeared on both the Las Vegas and New York shows. Due to the success of her forensic art, Taylor was named one of the "Texas Women of the Century." She was the first woman to receive the Dondero Award from the International Association for Identification for her "outstanding contribution in the field of scientific identification". A forensic art instructor for over twenty years at the FBI Academy and other law enforcement academies, universities, art and medical schools around the US and Canada, she now also devotes her in-depth knowledge of the human face to training fine artists. Her specialty is highly accurate and expressive portraits in bronze. After decades of depicting bad guys or their victims, Taylor particularly enjoys commemorating in bronze those she calls "The Good Guys". She accepts both forensic art and fine art commissions through her studio, Facial Images in Austin. She is author of Forensic Art and Illustration and the upcoming The Artist's Guide to Understanding the Human Face.
Karen T. Taylor teaches several identification-related forensic art workshops at FACTS, both drawing and sculpture. Courses offered vary year to year. See “Workshops” for specific classes and times scheduled.
Details
Audience: This workshop benefits both technical and fine artists who deal with the human face in their work and has practical applications in law enforcement, museum, medical, and other environments, including traditional portraiture.
Level: Sculpture experience is beneficial, but not required. Master-level students should have completed a forensic sculpture course in the past.
Dates: March 4-8, 2024 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily)
Location: Freeman Ranch Multipurpose Educational Facility, 2021 Freeman Ranch Rd, San Marcos, TX.
Textbook: The textbook Forensic Art and Illustration is highly recommended but not required. The book can be purchased at Amazon.com
Registration Information:
Contact: Dr. Sophia Mavroudas at 512-245-1900 or FACTS@txstate.edu for course information and local arrangements.
Tuition: $1050.00/person (Both Basic and Master level fees include in-class use of supplies and equipment, but not travel or accommodations. Master-level attendees should purchase and bring an additional skull model if they wish to take their muscle exercise home.)
Payment: Space is limited. Full payment of tuition is required by January 26, 2024. No refunds are available.
Cancellation: No refunds will be made.