Posts by isculpter

A maquette is compared to the enlarged Newsboy sculpture piece, point by point. This will not be the process used to create the armature of Evelyn. Instead new digital process will be used by the artist.

Traditional sculpture has changed for some over the years.  When it comes to creating a sculpture for a client, many start with a small maquette, or small sculpture. This is usually done to try to obtain a pose and work out the movement of a piece.  An example of creating a maquette can be seen in my Newsboy blog, and is shown on this page.

In the case of the Evelyn sculpture we are not going to create a maquette. Instead, we are going right to a large sculpture. The reason for this is that we know the pose. It has been decided on, and there is little to figure out in this sculpture project.

The armature of the life-size sculpture of the newsboy.

Going from a maquette to a large sculpture in the traditional process can be very, very time consuming, and up until adding digital technology to my process, it was one of my least favorite things to do.  There is some detail about this traditional process in my journal of creating the newsboy.  The process consists of measuring up the sculpture, point by point, creating an armature, made up of rebar, and or pipe, chicken wire, spray foam and then of course clay.  It is time consuming and not a very creative part of the process, but it is necessary.

New part of my creative process
Over the last few years I have been incorporating both traditional process of sculpting with digital technology. You will see this in the up and coming posts about the armature.   I call this tra-digi art.  I love it, it expedites my process, gives me more control over my tools, and when these tools are used to help to create a pose, as the example of Jenna in the video below, it helps my client to visualize the piece.

Here is a video that describes how I have used tra-digi art in the past.  Check back to see how we are using this with Evelyn.

The pose of the sculpture to be created for the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center- Houston has already been decided on.  It will be the exact pose that you see of her hands on hips, sweater, suite and pearls. This pose was already decided on by my client before I came into the picture, but I love it.  I think, it has a personal meaning to me as well.

 I didn’t know Evelyn, I wish I had. I hope I can as I work on this project. Some tell me I develop a relationship with the deceased through my posthumous sculpture. I know it sounds a bit strange, but in hindsight, I guess that is what I do.  I learn so much about them. It is important to me to do this, as I want more than a likeness, I want their essence.

What this pose tells me….
Back in the 80’s I was reprimanded for this pose.  Yes, a man once told me a woman never puts her hands on her hips.  I disagree. This pose says, I’m confident of myself, I’m friendly, but… don’t cross me, I know what I am doing.  Perhaps, back in the 80’s with the man who said it to me, it was threatening to him.  I’m overjoyed to see this pose that demonstrates not only strength but grace at the same time. Wow, how she does that is so impressive. I hope I can transfer that to the clay.

Often, when working on posthumous sculpture I get a “feel” for the person.  This is most likely drawn by the comments I hear from others.  That is why I count on the stories of others, and visiting with others about Evelyn.

What I feel about Evelyn today
Empowered.
Strong
Creating a legacy

I’m honored to work on this sculpture, and look forward to getting to know Evelyn a bit more.

I am very pleased to announce that I have been asked to create a life-size sculpture of a very influential woman of Houston. The Jewish Community Center has been renamed as the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center. It is my job to capture not just the likeness of this woman, but the spirit and essence of someone I have never known. I’m up for the challenge, but unlike many of my other posthumous sculptures, it is difficult to find information on Evelyn. I count on family and friends to assist me with this process. For me posthumous sculpture is a cocreation between myself and those who know and love my subject. It is their stories that assist me with that etherial part of posthumous portrait sculpting. So if you knew Evelyn, please share your stories. You can do so through comments or by contacting me directly

The life-size sculpture will greet individuals as they enter and leave the ERJCC.

Here is an article in the Jewish Herald Voice describing the entire new renaming.