The Sculpting Process

Before starting a piece, several sketches are made while studying the animal's anatomy. Many subjects include Endangered Species, which are perched on bases representing their shrinking environment. I want to convey the animal's inseparable connection to its vital habitat. I also enjoy sculpting whales and marine wildlife and try to capture their beauty of form, grace and flowing movement.

Each sculpture is individually handmade. No molds are used for my sculptures but I have created press molds for my tiles and masks. I use a white stoneware clay and various techniques to create the animals. Some bases are made with clay slabs, the animals sculpted on top of them. Some sculptures are made solid, then cut apart in sections, hollowed out and reassembled.

Details are carved in when the clay reaches a “leather hard” stage. When finished, the piece must be dried slowly, at least 2 to 3 weeks.

Then the sculpture is bisque fired in an electric kiln. After bisque firing, the piece is then “smoke fired” outside in a kiln made of bricks. Different materials used for the firing yield various effects. Sawdust, straw, hay, pine needles, twigs or leaves may be used as fuel. The sculpture is “painted” by the markings left by smoke and flame.

Some pieces are painted with professional watercolor paints before smoke firing, some after the firing, depending on the desired effect. All sculptures are sealed with a protective UV matte spray afterward.

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Rhino sculpture after smoke firing with straw.

The results of an all day sawdust firing.