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Portraits of People
Working with a model is one of the things I enjoy about making sculpture. I never ask that my model sit in the same place or look in the same direction for more than a few minutes at a time. Usually I find myself engaged in an animated two-way conversation about whatever our mutual interests are. It is in this conversational atmosphere that the shape and feeling of the portrait develops. In this way I am able to make a piece that is not just a ‘dead likeness’, but instead is a lively representation of the life and character of the person modeling. When we are finished I have myself gained a deeper understanding of the human spirit and that ultimately is why I am making art. In a sense every figure and head I make is a self portrait.
A completed portrait becomes a touchstone for the past and a foundation stone on which future tradition will rest. It provides a sense of continuity that serves as an anchor to future generations giving them an animated sense of the character and spirit of their ancestors. A portrait affords us an opportunity to tell them who they have come from and to give them a leg up in the adventure of finding out who they are. It is an expression of love for those children we will never know but who will carry our consciousness and the work of discovering what a human being can be.
Portraits of Animals
The process of making a portrait sculpture of your animal involves three or four sittings of one to two hours each. In some cases, I can work from photos only, if you can provide me with enough shots from various angles. However, I would rather have the animal with me in the beginning. During the first sitting I will take a set of measurements of the animal as well as a series of photographs. Usually I am able to capture the shape of the head in two or three sittings over the course of a three or four-day dog show. The photographs will provide me with the information I need to finish detailing the piece in my studio if I am unable to complete it at the show. It generally takes 14 to 16 weeks to deliver the piece after the modeling is completed. If you are thinking of commissioning a portrait and do not live in the Portland area, then contact me before one of the shows I will be attending and set up an appointment to begin working at the show.