A Christmas Party!
We are busy at the studio trying to get ready for an upside down Christmas. I used to have these type of parties at the studio regularly. It has been over 12 years since we had one. What is an upside Christmas party consist of? Well the biggest thing is the tree is flipped upside down and hung from the ceiling. Where does the tree skirt go? Well, on the ceiling of course.
You would be amazed at how easy it is to wire lights on an upside down tree. The gifts go under the tree which is now on the floor.
I’ll have to post pictures of the entire thing. If you are reading this and have not received an invitation please email me privately and I’ll be sure to send you your invite.
Another Order For a Small” Newsboy
Some lucky newspaper publisher will be getting a copy of the small bronze newsboy as a gift. This sculpture is a limited edition of 100 and the cost is $1,350 plus shipping. 
How Do You Do That?
I started with my sitting where I took measurements and photographs. If I am working with children then I spend lots of time playing with them while we do this. It is also important that with children I am sure of their good time of the day. With this commission I don’t have those stipulations.
My apprentice helps me by putting clay on a wire armature. I am using a water base clay. I love the feel of this clay and it has so many advantages compared to the wax based clay, but, it will dry out if not kept wet. It can also sag. That is why I use the other types of clay on sculpture that will be around a while.
The measurements help me to get the size of the person. I have reduced my subject 90%. If a portrait bust is going in an average size room it is better to reduce it or it will look monstrously large. There will also be a bit more shrinkage as this is going to the foundry and that process also has a bit more shrinkage.
slowly you can see the sculpture begin to morph into a person. If I am not mistaken is also has some emotion. Relationships are all about intimacy and I think that with my research into creating posthumous portraits and with art and emotion I realize I become intimate with the piece. It is funny but looking at the pictures of us together you can “feel” that intimacy.
Still I search for my subject. Who are you? What part of you do your children want me to capture? There is a camaraderie between my clay, the muses and myself. A ritualistic dance to find the hidden soul.
Many wonder how do I create a portrait bust.
SIZES
There are two sizes of portrait busts just below the shoulders and more chest. More chest will cost more money in bronze. I can not seem to get away from it though. My subject reminds me a lot of the B. B. King sculpture and sitting. They both have wide shoulders. To cut my subject just below the shoulders seems to decrease who he is. Like B’ they both seem to have that emotional stature. I have decided to continue with a larger bronze and see what my client thinks. I can always show the client,” we can cut it here.” I’ll post more later.
I think I also love my clients handerchief coming out of the pocket. To get down that far is costly, but we will see.
I have had to stop until I get more clay. 50lbs later. Oh yes, with the wax based clay it is reusable, but the water base clay is not.
Books For Professor Hathaway
Last week I went to the thrift store and looked for some books to set at Dick’s feet. The title of these books will change as they will be covered with clay and the form of the books actually become an armature. I’ll carve the titles in the book so they will be seen in the cover and spine. I may utilize the book bag as well, covering it with wax to stiffen it up.
I am still searching for the title of the books that would be at Dick’s feet. You may notice there are a few other elements that are spilling out of the bag. To be specific they will be an elephant carving, a feather and their will be a piece of paper a letter on top of the bag.
Here is the significance of these items.
The first is an elephant. I received this elephant from my professor Charlotte Hastings. It was in regard to something I mentioned while I was writing the book “Bringing to Life the Spirit of the DeceasedÂA Sculptor’s Journey”
THE ELEPHANT
I commented in my writing of the book, “I have always been intrigued with the story that I heard of elephants, marveling at the bones of their ancestors that they never knew. I remember seeing an elephant documentary that said that elephants that came across bones of their ancestors would pick them up and caress them, passing them from one to another in a respectful but mourning ritual. By doing so, it helped them come to terms with death. I feel that this action, this simple action by a wonderful and majestic creature is what I feel when I create posthumous portraiture. When the box of personal affects comes to my studio and I examine it, from that day forward until the day that the sculpture is complete I have spent time lovingly caressing the life that I have had a pleasure to be introduced to. I turn that life over and over in my hands and heart as lovingly as those majestic elephants did with the bones of their ancestors. It is through my ritual and my art that my experience is enhanced and the healing process and letting go occur for my client. “
THE FEATHER
There will also be a feather pouring out of the book bag, another symbol that is mentioned in my book –
“While sitting at dinner with several classmates on the Vermont College Campus, we were discussing posthumous portraiture and my journey. They were all interested in my topic. Again I state, “How do I do this? It is a difficult thing for me to look at, do you think that somehow I communicate with my subject”
Communicating with those who are dead is not an easy thing for me to comprehend. I have a strong Christian background and communication with the deceased would be frowned on by some people. “Besides”, I tell myself, “this is just art.”As we talk the eyes of one of my classmates tears up. I have just met all of these people within the last day, and these women at this very dinner. I discover that Helen has just lost her mother seven days earlier. “Great.” I think to myself, “You have done it again talking about death like it is an everyday thing.”
I apologize to Helen, “I am sorry if I am being insensitive.” It would not be the first time that I have had to do this” apologize. Just last year I was visiting a friend who lost her son. She and I had had our children months apart, and I could not begin to comprehend the incredible pain of losing a child who is only 19. She inquired about my work, artist that she is, and I told her about my most recent commissions, all which surrounded death. I truly was not trying to be insensitive to the pain of others, this work is my job, my life. I work with death almost every day.
Helen tells me that it is all right and proceeds to tell me a story about her mother. “I did a study on the Native American Indians,” she begins. “Within this study I discovered the strong symbolism that a feather has to the Native American Indian culture and while my mom was in the hospital, I gave her a feather.” We all listened intently to the story. She told us how unsure she was about coming to residency, but she knew that her mother would want her to come. So she packed her bags. She left the room where her bags were sitting and upon returning she looked and on top of the bags was a feather. She quickly stated that she collects feathers and has cats and maybe one of the cats could have gotten into her feathers and brought one to the suitcase. All three of her classmates concurred: it did not matter how the feather got there, it meant something to her, and so we believed it was from her mom.
After our conversation that evening, I was overwhelmed with the amount of interaction with people in the last few days. It was so unlike me, but I decided to skip the next lecture and take a long walk up the mountain. Just before dark I returned to the campus. As I turned to enter the dorm building, there on the ground was a feather. I stepped over the feather at first saying, “Hmm here is a feather”. Then I realized the significance and backed up and said, ” HERE IS A FEATHER!” I picked up the feather and then searched for Helen. When I found her I handed her the feather and said, “Maybe they do communicate; if so, I think your mom says hi.”
It was not the only feather Helen received throughout the six-day residency. In total she received five feathers.”
There were many more strange things involved in these two symbols, but I suppose you will have to read the book to find out.
THE LETTER
The letter will be a statement about Dick, a letter to him from those who loved him, all of us. I’ll carve this into the wax or clay.
Sending The Money to The TW Woods Gallery
As reported before the TW Wood Gallery is now taking the donations toward the Dick Hathaway memorial project. That means that the donations are tax deductible. Today I closed out the Houston account and sent them a check for what was in this account. It was a whopping $60.70!
I am glad that we have a total of $20,060. toward the project with just a balance of $4,940 needed.
A New Commission
I am beginning a new sculpture commission today. I move away from death, which I have been working in regularly for the last year and a half and for a change I have a live subject. I even get to see this subject in person, something that is a rarity in my work these days. I always tell people, “The first sitting will take about an hour or so, I take photographs and measurements and try to get to know my subject.” But I am reminded that to capture the essence of someone is deeper than what one can obtain in an hour. I have not thought about it until this very moment, but I do the same process in sculpting the person from life as I do those who are no longer here. I try to find them long after they are gone from my studio. I count on the love of those that know them, and I search for the essence, the special look that the family wants captured and shared with the world. No easy task.
I guess if I could have my way I would stay with a person at least for a weekend. I had that opportunity once with two children. Though even then we are all on our guard. My job is to try and catch a glimpse behind the veils or walls that we unknowingly construct and show to others.
Today I shared With Jeanine’s Mom
It made me smile, and it made me cry, but most of all it made me know how profound life and death are.
Jeanine, one of my posthumous commissions is just coming to an end. Finalizing the details I shared with Jeanines mom the wonderful lessons that I learned through this sculpture. I hope to share it in my book and will try to put some of the writing here. The connection between Jeanine, myself and her mom was strong. I wonder, ” What made that happen?” As is relationships in life I think it was the sharing. The sharing of ourselves and our intimate details of our lives. I learned about Jeanine through her mom. Her mom was open and shared quite a bit. I wish all posthumous commissions were like the relationship that was developed here. I can never have too much, I can never have too many photographs or e-mails that just ramble about the person and the love. It is strange to think that I develop a relationship with the deceased. When it was first brought to my attention I though it was impossible, but then as I mulled it over I realized, it is true. Through my work and through death my friendships grow.
The picture above is one of Jeanine’s moms favorite pictures. She says it shows her spirit.
While completing my study and writing the book “Brining to Life the Spirit of the Deceased—A Sculptor’s Journey” my beloved instructor Charlotte Hastings passed away. I had taken this picture of her while at an art show. I was surprised at how similar Charlotte’s picture and Jeanine’s picture are. It is good to remember on those we love, to think about their energy and their affect on our life even after death. Thank you Jeanine, thank you charlotte.
More On a Foundry Visit
While at the foundry and making sure Lucas was going together correctly I had this picture taken of the two of us. He is still all glowing from the raw metal. Soon he will be ready to patina and to go home.
The Winners Of a Student Art Show That I Judged
I am very involved in Culture shapers. It is an organization that has been put together by some of the businesses around Houston. They award very wonderful cash prizes to art students. I have judged in Culture Shapers since the beginning 7 years ago and love it. The prizes are pretty hefty $5,000 being the top prize. I judged over a month ago and the banquet was last night. Students and their parents were fluttering around wondering who had one what. Here are some of the pictures I took of the some of the winners in my sculpture category. I always tell the students that judging is subjective. What one judge may put as number one or move up, another might not. If you did not make it into the top 10 of culture Shapers, don’t be disheartened. Try again, maybe another contest, another area, but most of all keep creating!
What I would change about Culture Shapers or my wish list.
A. The student work must show. I would love to see all of the winning pieces hang in a gallery for a while.
B. I would love to see a judges night, where the judges could display their work- real professional artists, and students could come and view it. A panel of judges would also be available for a question and answer period. (this is important to encourage and motivate the students and to give them more exposure to the real thing)
C. There are a few things I would change about the judging, but I’m working on that
Another Newsboy to Be Created
Many times when I create a sculpture I reserve the rights to pour additional castings of the sculpture. That is the case with the newsboy. I had a client that contacted me and asked if they could purchase the sculpture and could I change the newspaper.
I think the idea is marvelous. Each newsboy with the headline and masthead of the newspaper that is pertinent to their history. I am sorry I can not reveal the purchaser or the headline, though it is fascinating. The sculpture is a being created as a gift for someone who used to work in the publishing industry. Just in case that person happens to be surfing the net and finds my litte obscure blog, I’ll hold off on the details until the gift is presented. I am thrilled that another newsboy is being cast. It is at the foundry now.
If anyone is interested in one of the life size newsboy sculptures, the price, at this date is $20,000. If you would like the newspaper changed to fit your headline and masthead there is an additional $2,000 charge. To do this I hand carve each of the papers, and there are many. There is one in the newsboys hand, one under his other arm, and several on the ground. My client sent me a copy of the newspaper that they wanted to produce and I created a mock up to show them what it would look like. OF couse we can’t put all of the copy, there is greeking or scribbles where the body copy is. There is however the masthead, the headline and the look of their paper.
I also won’t change the back of the paper. The copy reads “in memory of Skinney and others” If you are interested in the history and the hidden meaning behind the back page of the newspaper check out this part of the journal by following the newsboy category, and then read the link to the death of a newsboy.