Merry Christmas—And A Prayer For Those Who Are Ill
Recently I recorded a podcast about traditions. It was for Inspirations/Generations podast that I record with my mother, and daughter. It was about Christmas traditions. You can find the podcast on the God’s Word Collectible website, or if you like you can subscribe to it in 
In it we talked about reading the Christmas story from the bible and reenacting the scene with the nativity figures. Well my children are grown and my daughter lives in another state, so instead I read in front of Jenna’s candle. Jenna’s candle was given to me by her mom and I was instructed to light it on special occasions.
Because a good deal of the year I am working on sculptures of loved ones who have died, I have a great compassion for my clients and others who have lost a loved one. This time of year is especially difficult. So I lit the candle for Jenna, and for all of those other children and I read the Christmas Story. I also prayed for those families who have family members who are struggling with cancer and illness. I thought about the children as I sat alone in my studio and read and prayed. May all families feel God’s comfort at this time.
Jenna’s candle is on a place that might be referred as my alter. It has special things that I like, a picture of my mom and myself, a stone elephant that I mention in my book “Bringing to Life the Spirit of the Deceased-A Sculptor’s Journey.” And a sculpture that someone created for me saying, “this sculpture represents your spirit. “
May all families feel God’s comfort at this time.
A Completed Sculpture For The University of Memphis
Today I completed, or should I say almost completed the commission of Willard R. Sparks for the University of Memphis. There is just some minor smoothing out to be done and then he is off to the foundry. I expect he will be going through the mold process by the weekend. His daughter came by and approved the sculpture. I have really enjoyed sharing not just memories of Mr. Sparks but also her love of animals and other things. Here are some final pictures.
Sparks Commission- Update -Moving Along
Moving along and trying to finish Mr. Sparks for the University of Memphis by next week. That is if my thumb holds out.
A Sculptor’s Bones–O.K.
I guess it is a little strange that I just finished a hand doctor’s portrait and I end up at a hand doctor. I should have made an appointment with Dr. Brown, but I didn’t want to to take a chance on blowing the surprise. The good news , there is no arthritis. I have some other problems that warrant resting hand in brace when not sculpting and using cream. Just thought the xray was so cool. A sculptor’s bones!
The Secret Revealed!
For about 4 months I have been working with a new secret client. It was a secret because we were creating it for her husband to be given to him at their Christmas Party. The party was this past Saturday. The subject was Dr. Brown of the Houston Hand Center. You know the commercial, with his little daughter, who reaches out for the camera.
Rachel, Dr. Brown’s wife, and I have been working on this commission for four months and we managed to pull it off even though Hurricane Ike came in the middle and tried to slow us down.Rachel graciously invited my husband and I to their company Christmas party. Something quite fun as we don’t work for a company and rarely get to go to a Christmas party.I also loved being there for the unveiling.
I also worked diligently to put together a video of the entire process. Rachel was so much fun to work with sending me photographs and letting me tape her voice. It was a blast to have that extra little something to go with the sculpture. The video was played at the party.Mr. Brown was delighted with his sculpture, and Ms. Brown expressed a desire to have the kids captured as life-size bronzes. We all agree, the Brown’s will be keeping me quite busy in the next year or so, but not too busy to take on other work, I’ll just be hiring new apprentices.Here are some photographs from the event.
Sparks Commission Always Wanting More Reference
When trying to capture the likeness of someone it is much more difficult when you don’t have lots of reference. The more reference the easier my job. I tried to pull some photographs from a memorial video and they helped some but it is nice to have both profile and front view. Without that the sculpture may look exactly like the subject from the front, but from the side it will look like a stranger. I spent the weekend roughing in the sculpture and have a good start, I may have to hold off on doing any more until I have more reference. If the client can’t find any of course I’ll do my best. But here is the sculpture as it appears roughed in. This is Mr. Sparks for the University of Memphis.
Sparks Commission- Update – Developing A Relationship With The Deceased
Here the process begins again, tapping into more than a likeness, but the life and essence of someone I have never known. As I get to know my subject, “develop a relationship with the deceased”, as a friend once said. I feel very honored to be the artist chosen to capture such a great man.
The other day I met Mr. Sparks’ daughter. I gravitated to her, felt bonded with her. She was real, caring, a grown women who had a part of her daddy in her. Her love of animals, her desire to help others. It is these elements that I see and feel in the living that helps me bond with the deceased.
I just finished watching the memorial video of Mr. Sparks. At first I could get no sound and i searched through the video instead looking for profiles, something that was lacking in the reference material that I was given. Screen shot after screen shot I longed to hear what was being said about the man. I’m interested in his life, his part in history.
I found a button on the computer that gave me sound and watched the entire segment the second time this time with volume. These comments of those who knew and loved the man are as important as the physical reference. They help me to tap into the essence of who he was. One video segment made me smile. I rewound the video, saying “Stop, stop, oh there you are”. The twinkle in the eye, the smile. Let me capture that essence.
Now to transfer this to clay. I’m ever reminded of the little boy in the movie Hook. Who smooshes the grown Peter’s face around until he says, “Oh there you are Peter Pan!” That wonder is how I begin.
The state of Oklahoma and the state of Tennessee sure were lucky to have such a man as Willard R. Sparks
New Article- A Review of New Technology for the Traditional Studio at the Siggraph Convention
New Article- A Review of New Technology for the Traditional Studio at the Siggraph Convention
Best of Artists and Artisans finally got my new article up. Check it out.
The snail mail section is so funny. This article was complete a while ago and I am thrilled to be able to share more information in the near future concerning some of my other finding on technology in the traditional studio.
Sculpture Judge For Culture Shapers
Once again it was that time of the year for the Culture Shapers art contest. Here is a link to the top 10. And a couple of photographs of my favorites. I can not tell you the order of the top 10 that is secrete and won’t be revealed until the 9th annual awards ceremony on November 20th.
The entries seemed to be down this year. Probably due to hurricane Ike. After all many students were out of school for a couple of weeks. The contest was also administrated a bit differently this year in that all of the work was taken in on one day, as well as judged on one day. I am sure this was a nightmare for culture shapers but I really enjoyed seeing and meeting all of the other judges. Sometimes your life can feel very lonely when you sculpting in the studio followed by writing upstairs in the office.
Once again I must say that any art show is subjective. It really depends on the judges. This year I had two entirely different judges. They like what they do an I like what I do. I am willing to fight over the pieces that I feel need to be at the top, but then again there area some concessions that need to be made as well. I can’t believe I didn’t take pictures of all of my favorites but here are a few.
Mother Nature
Kelsey Brinson
Cy-Ridge HS
Cy-Fair ISD
Teacher: Claire Vining
Adolere, Orare, Adorare
Anda Brown
Clear Creek HS
Clear Creek ISD
Teacher: Terri Foltz-Fox
This one is hard to see, but it is twined hands. I love reading what the kids say about the artwork.This actually represents what they went through when having so much destruction on their home during Ike.
New Commissions-Willard R Sparks
Willard R Sparks
Born in Dibble, Oklahoma October 10, 1936
Died in Memphis, Tennessee on January 30, 2005
It feels good to have a commission that I can talk about. I have so many secret ones going on right now. It is a Christmas thing. My newest Commission is of Willard R Sparks, for the University of Memphis. Here is a link to information about Mr Sparks. Another one of those quick turn around commissions, but I look forward to getting to know the man, and I’ll be blogging about the process for all of those UM alumni, students and faculty that care to watch.