1. Hey yes if you’re working in water based clay than I would let it firm up a little (not quite leather hard) an then use a knife to cut out the armature. If the clay is too dry it will crumble so don’t let it be too dry and it also may need some supports without the armature if it is too wet so it is a delicate balance. My friend who works primarily with water based clay uses a single metal rod as an armature for the full figure and nails it into a board, then he lets the sculpture firm up slightly and removes the rod, covers the hole and slow fires it solid. That’s something else you might like to try. 2. Yes there will be a lesson on mold making but its going to be super basic. I recommend checking out the YouTube channel “Brick in the Yard Mold supply” because they have in depth tutorials on mold making and different types of materials. Also Eirik Arnesen’s YouTube channel has some videos showing his methods for making molds for figurative sculpture. Mold making could be a course in and of itself for sure.