portrait sculpture

Portrait Sculpture

2010-02-04T09:22:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the site showing examples of portrait sculpture.
The Sculptress JOEL has recently been asked to do several portraits of best loved dogs, and examples of these are included, though she has also been working on other animals and people.
There are three examples of portraits made during 2008 and 2009
Life sized sculpture of a female working Labrador

Life sized portrait head of a Cairn Terrier

Table top sculpture of West Highland White

During 2010 you can follow the making of the portrait of the head of a Deerhound

Here is an image of the original

The Bronze portrait sculpture of the Deerhound was unveiled at Blenheim
"She's Gorgeous" was the client's response
and a quote from visitors
"The Celtic Hound is fantastic - Just like our Deerhounds"

If you are interested in having a portrait sculpture of a special individual please contact JOEL at the Studio

Portrait Sculpture of a Young Labrador Dog

2010-02-04T04:50:00.000-08:00

Meet one special original

"Make Me ! ?"

Here we are Basil...the base of the form of the head in place on the supporting armature

Looking a little strange without the ears, but so important to have the correct shape of the head first....some ears will be made as an early sketch...to be taken to show Basil at his first sitting for the clay.

We have had a good series of days at Basil's home, watching him and spending many hours forming his portrait

Back at the studio many more hours work and the details and then the fine details are added. The lovely spring weather meant I could take advantage of the good natural light and warm days!

Basil the Labrador, with his intelligent expression and

big soft looking ears

Deerhound portrait Sculpture

2010-01-01T02:49:00.000-08:00

This is the image of the super Deerhound called Cassley.

The armature has been made with extra thick steel rod, as the head from nose to stop is nearly 12inches long!

The next stage is to increase the armature to support the clay, but stay within the final shape, and to then build up to the topline.

It is always exciting to see the first clay go on and start to build up.

Patience is needed as the long steady build up is ahead.

Development up to the topline, and the beginnings of the eyesocket,

and starting down towards the jawline

The width is also starting to be developed.
One challenge is to sculpt the bone structure and muscles first
and not to see the hair, all the lovely hair!

Applying the layers of hair last, will give the proper appearance of depth of hair and structure below.

The neck is being built up and the last details of the topline developed

To give an indication of where we will be going some of the key points have been sketched in

The shape of the nose improves as the lower parts are added and the bottom jaw and chin developed

We now have the head of a long dog !

The sketch of an ear will be replaced by two, both reinforced with special supporting metal mesh

We have come a long way...the reinforced ears have been temporarily sited to check how they look. More hair has been sketched in to support the layers of hair that will be developed.

Some test eyeballs have been added...which look strange without the eyelids!

We have had a great session with the Deerhound and owner, and the eye and ear are in place. Now the profile has been checked, the base for the coat and hair is built on.

The ear set closer to the head has been chosen...it has been an amazing experience to discover how this great dog can change the positions of her ears an eyes and face!

The ear folds into the line of the head when the dog is up and ready to run into the wind.

Marvelous

Just so you know it does not all happen on its own...here is JOEL at work

here the other side slowly progressing

and the front view developing

There has been much work on the sculpture

The detail of the hair and features is added little by little

And the other side

Here is the happy original

Many more hours working over the detail and making small but important changes, and visits to the studio from the original and her kind owner.

The owner pleased and happy with the sculpture.

Next off to the foundry ( carefully!)

The mound made, wax taken and then checked and worked by JOEL - the casting went well and a beautiful patination and then the unveiling

Fabulous - What a dog and what a sculpture

Life Sized Labrador Bronze cast

2009-11-24T03:03:00.000-08:00

The Beautiful Life sized Bronze Labrador

Set against the Hall and garden

If you wonder about the size...here she is with a large woolly coated Cavalier called Chloe!

More images of this beautiful Bronze Labrador Sculpture

The second number of Great Loyalty shown here outside Langar Hall

Here with the lovely Backdrop of this fine Country Hotel

And quickly making new friends

A fine sculpture in beautiful surroundings

Portrait Sculpture of West Highland White

2009-11-04T09:43:00.000-08:00

The hair round the ears has been developed

Other details of hair have been reinforced and added.

It has been interesting to see the similarities and differences of the West Highland White Terrier to the Cairn Terrier ~ shape of head and muzzle, details of coat...

Finer details to sculpture

2009-10-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

Progress continues with the Westie Sculpture

You can see the different adding the coat has made to the shape of the front legs

The portrait of the West Highland White dog progresses little by little, with details to the coat on his head and over his eyes.

Life sized Labrador now in wax

2009-10-24T02:56:00.000-07:00

Details of the portrait of the Labrador now in wax at the foundry are checked.

The close up shows the swirls of the hair from the ear down onto the neck.

Paws and caws and fine areas carefully examined and nade good.

Life Sized working female Labrador Sculpture

2009-09-16T04:41:00.001-07:00

Life Sized Female working Labrador

Safely delivered to the foundry

To give an indication of the appearance in Bronze, black and white images have been made

The Life Sized sculpture of the working labrador is receiving the final details of expression and coat texture

The young labrador is sitting, head turned slightly, alert and attentive.....

You can see the classic depth of chest and muscles of a fit young dog

"Many thanks to all the breeders and judges who have helped inform the sculpture and give advice to me on the characteristics of the working labrador" JOEL

West Highland White Sculpture

2009-09-09T08:32:00.000-07:00

Characteristic longer wavy coat on legs and stomach

The fur on his neck starts to show.

More detail to the head and coat

West Highland White Sculpture progressing

This is the lovely expression to capture

Alert ears and characteristic hair developing by the eyes

The start of the details of this special dog's face

Early days in this portrait of a very special dog.... lying relaxed but alert and with that sense of fun and interest...

25cm long - twenty pence piece gives the scale

Life sized Labrador Dog

2009-03-10T09:25:00.000-07:00

Study and work has begun for the latest life sized sculpture...a seated Labrador bitch, alert and ready for action.

Follow the story of the study and making of this special dog.

Work is progressing well and we are adding the details to the musculature and then the fine characteristics of expression
Many thanks to all those who have helped in the making of the working Labrador sculpture...judges, breeders and trainers...and enthusiasts.

Cairn Terrier compared with Portrait Sculpture

2009-02-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

The Cairn can be compared to the finished sculpture in clay, and above the cast bronze portrait sculpture finished and now presented to the proud owners.

The mould was taken and the next stage was for JOEL to check the wax.

Once cast the following journey was made to ensure the finish cast was accurate and to apply patination to achieve a hint of the warmth of her coat and darkness of eye, without loosing the classic look of Bronze.

Then there was the joy of the portrait sculpture being presented to the commissioner and then to the happy recipient of this celebration of Suzie a very special gift.

Further Progress on the Cairn Princess

2008-12-05T07:16:00.000-08:00

The Cairn Sculpture progressed beautifully - thanks to the Posing of Lovely Suzie - a Princess amongst Cairns

Compare the two stages

Much work later and more details are in place

Cairn Sculpture eyes in

2008-11-12T05:28:00.001-08:00

The shape of the face is quite puppy-like, as the hair of the cheeks and brow is yet to be applied.

There is an early sketch of the hair on the nose to help position the eyes - this will be refined when at the sitting with the dog .

The foxy look is disappearing and the eyes are in...

Cairn Terrier Sculpture progresses

2008-11-10T06:48:00.001-08:00

The Sculpture filled out and the ears are set on...How foxy the terrier looks without hair !

Cairn Sculpture the third dimension

2008-11-10T06:42:00.000-08:00

The Sculpture developes with the increase of the front profile

Portrait of a Cairn Terrier

2008-10-24T09:44:00.000-07:00

First clay added, beginning of profile

Sculpture wire added to make the inner shape

The very beginning - steel rod and base