In which we embark on a journey… (Part 1)

Studio Note: 4

03.20.25

Curious observers have asked

if all of * this * comes straight from my head. The answer to that is yes…but mostly no. To illustrate, come on a journey with me— from concept to clay. This is the first in a four-part series about my creative process: designing, sculpting, mold-making, and painting are all parts of my work that I can’t wait to share! Here goes:

When designing, I don’t attempt anything so daunting as pulling a statue straight from the cluttered depths of my mind. A blank paper and a brain under pressure is too constipating a combination for my taste.

Instead, I always begin with a good, leisurely wander

down the halls of art. My first task is to see what art has already been made of the subject in question. I start with some of the earliest depictions, and continue hunting for anything of interest up until (and including) art from our current age. I prefer to gather image-laden books, but more often, I find myself hunched over Google, eyes squinted as I search through pages of results. I want to see what qualities of the subject are already being commonly portrayed by artists, and am always wondering if there is something else I want to add. I pay close attention to symbols I see popping up again and again, and question “why these?”

Around the same time, I crack a book

(or two or three) about the life of the subject. My aim is to understand some of their greatest qualities and to become familiar with the key moments of their grace-filled lives. You can’t really paint a portrait of someone you’ve never seen, never met. I truly believe this 'study' phase is the most important part of my sculptures.

Finally, with images gathered all around, I am ready to begin my own creation. I bookmark all the books and print out all my favorite finds. With a plethora of significant art around me, I have a real treasury from which to create something “new.” But really, is there anything new under the sun?

Here is where, with pencil wielded,

I get very specific about my favorite collected morsels. Why do I like them? What exactly do I like about them? Sometimes even if I don’t love a certain work as whole, one small detail is absolutely captivating to me, like the way the folds gather around the feet or the depth of colors… I take note of this. Circling, underlining, arrow-pointing, and all manner of marking ensues.

Then I sketch.

Just ideas. Combinations of this with that. It’s honestly really hard to force myself to sketch when I just want to dig my fingers into the clay. But I know I save myself time in the long run by making a road map first.

I ask one final question

before beginning. What quality or spirit or feeling do I want to emanate from my finished work? Peace? Joy? Authority? Wisdom? Humility? There could be many answers, but one of them always feels more important to me. The answer will influence every single one of the final details for me: the posture of the body, the tilt of the head, the angle of the brows, the direction of the eyes, the position of the hands.

Then, we’re off to the races. Clay!

Perhaps now you can see— my art is something new and something old…something both uniquely mine and something truly borrowed…It brings to mind a favorite quote from Dante: “Art, as far as it is able, follows nature, as a pupil imitates his master; thus your art must be, as it were, God's grandchild.” There is nothing new under the sun. There is only one real Creator. The rest of us are making mosaics from the fragments of our blurred vision. If the finished product shines, maybe it’s in spite of us.

Do you have any questions about my process? I truly love hearing you! Otherwise, please enjoy perusing my finished works by clicking the button below.

Sacred Art for your Home

Until next time,