Making the Stars !

Capturing the portraits of dearly loved companions - including life sized statues of dogs - here the project to make a  Labrador Dog called  Galaxy.
Here is Galaxy the original - visit here to follow this project through its making

Equipment and boards ready for the armature for Galaxy

Development of armature

Mesh and rods developed under the future profile

Build up of the  base layers of clay

  Progressing well on all profiles

Sketch of front paw to help with proportions

 The root of the tail begun

 Sketch of tail to bring proportions of the rear

 Shoulders and hips building up

This is where we are going

Below view from the front

Big push - intensive time developing  the Clay into a young Labrador dog!

A visit from the clients with Galaxy's friends - then days of intensive work to build up Galaxy Clay body and  develop his neck and head.



After months of work the last images are taken of Galaxy the Life sized Labrador statue in Clay 

Latest news on the Galaxy project - the mould is made and the next part of the process can  soon go forward. Thanks to Robin for all his work on this. 

It makes a big difference to have someone with skills and expertise  put the mould on something you have worked on for a year!

Work on the wax stage 

All the details of the paws

 Weeks pass and the foundry makes the investment mould, and proceeds though the casting process.

All cast and  finished by the skilled foundry workers in Birmingham 

and here pre patination.

Photo session at home and then careful delivery to the site of the happy owners and family

His sister is pleased?!

Project brought to completion thank you to all involved for their time and trouble and input.

Special Gift for Special Day

For that Special Gift for that Special Day... .

Whether making something new in time or sending the precious gift safely...the Tenon Studio and Sculptress JOEL do all possible to make the Gift Special.

A long successful record of delighted buyers and recipients  and big smiles as Life is celebrated.
Birthdays, Retirement, Anniversaries - or because you care or there is a particular cause to promote.

Contact the Tenon Studio and speak to the Sculptress JOEL about your project.
Telephone  01664 454 987  - leave a message on the message service/speak to the artist

Check out the latest News to see what has been happening and be reassured that your own project can go on as well.

Portrait Bronze of the head of a beautiful working Cocker Spaniel

by JOEL

If you are looking for a detailed sculpture of a horse or dog breed, or other subject, do look at those available in the GALLERY.
It is also sometimes possible for JOEL to modify and so personalise one of these sculptures in the wax stage of production.

There are special bases that can be made to make your sculpture unique, or to carry an engraved tribute.

Labrador Portraits form Jubilee Collection

Portraits of Five Lovely Labradors  now form the  Jubilee editions  here
for more information  and images

Portrait Sculpture of a Young Labrador Dog

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

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