Clay

Terra Cotta, "baked earth" in Italian, is a noble and permanent material. The terra cottas' of Donatello, maquettes of Michelangelo and Bernini, to name a few, take my breath away! It is on the surface of the baked clay that you are able see the thumbprint of the artist and capture their thought process, much like studying original drawings and sketches, another passion of mine.

My subject matter deals exclusively with the human figure and my drawings and clay studies are an integral part of my completed work.

When working with the model, I focus on capturing their unique qualities, which in turn makes the sculpture alive with emotion and adds a touch of realism. Attention to physical characteristics, such as crooked fingers on sinewy hands, long gnarly toes, or the graceful contour of a fleshy hip are emphasized or even exaggerated in my work. They are the clues that unfold the secrets of the individual within.

The sculpture begins as a hybrid of what I see and how I feel about the subject. It is not complete until long after the model has left the studio and the sculpture communicates to me a soul and story of its own.