Introduction

[dollhaven]

Hello. My name is Tammy Sharpe. I am a new sculptor from Ohio. I just joined and haven't had a chance to look around the forums. It looks like a great opportunity to get many different points of views, tips, etc.

I've been sculpting for about 4 years under Philippe Faraut of PCF Studios, New York. If anyone ever gets a chance to take one of his sculpting classes, do so. He has taught me everything I know and is a great Portrait Sculptor. I host his sculpting class at my Doll shop in Troy, Ohio. I have one scheduled for March 26th, 27th, and 28th of this year. This isn't a plug for him but a plug for anyone who is interested in learning his techniques.

I've only sculpted about 15-20 pieces due to owning a Porcelain Doll shop which keeps me busy a 1000 hours a week.

Just wanted to say hi and I look forward to the forum discussions. I attached a few pictures of my beginning work if anyone would like to see.

Thanks for looking!

[jwebb]

Welcome ! A real spark of life in both of your clay portraits, yet they are very "unstudied", natural and complete. VERY nice work. I look forward to your insights, comments, and critical eye in these pages in the future. To heck with the dolls. The world has enough dolls. Do more portraits!

[Stephen Casey]

Well Tammy, Philippe Faraut is a fine teacher in my book by what I can see in your work. The subtle aspects of personality ring loud and clear to me in each one of them. The bearded gent seemed to be missing his broken nose in the clay. But other than that to my humble eyes they look great. The mayor must of been mighty proud. I hope it wasn't a memorial, and he has the chance to enjoy it.

Glad to see another lady in the house, we have been just a bit lopsided. The very opposite from my experience in polymer clay forums, there I am one of the few fellas.

The forum seems to have been a little slow lately but that will change. Don't miss the Galleries, found from the root directory, "Sculpture Community > Etc" the forum navigation can be confusing sometimes. There is enough in the galleries to fire and challenge an imagination quite well. Some of the older threads that show having a ton of post are very interesting. All in all I have had some of my most interesting conversations here in years. Right clicking on a members name will open the option to private message them if they have that option turned on, or see some profile aspects like their homepage. Welcome!

[sculptorsam]

Welcome Tammy. I hope we see plenty of you around in the forums. Your work looks good to me but what do I know?... I'm just a welder.

And great intro Stephen. Maybe you should be the head of our welcoming committee?!

Sam

[anne (bxl)]

welcome Tammy, great to have another lady on the forum!

[Araich]

Stunning.

Welcome :)

[dollhaven]

Welcome ! A real spark of life in both of your clay portraits, yet they are very "unstudied", natural and complete. VERY nice work. I look forward to your insights, comments, and critical eye in these pages in the future. To heck with the dolls. The world has enough dolls. Do more portraits!


Thanks. I can't just say "heck with the dolls"... that's my business that I opened. I teach porcelain doll classes and do doll repair. Plus.. my students would hate me!
I really do love the sculpting. My mentor says pretty much the same thing you do but I'm trying to combine the sculpting work with my doll shop.
Oh, what did you mean by "unstudied"? I wasn't sure...

[dollhaven]

Well Tammy, Philippe Faraut is a fine teacher in my book by what I can see in your work. The subtle aspects of personality ring loud and clear to me in each one of them. The bearded gent seemed to be missing his broken nose in the clay. But other than that to my humble eyes they look great. The mayor must of been mighty proud. I hope it wasn't a memorial, and he has the chance to enjoy it.

Glad to see another lady in the house, we have been just a bit lopsided. The very opposite from my experience in polymer clay forums, there I am one of the few fellas.

The forum seems to have been a little slow lately but that will change. Don't miss the Galleries, found from the root directory, "Sculpture Community > Etc" the forum navigation can be confusing sometimes. There is enough in the galleries to fire and challenge an imagination quite well. Some of the older threads that show having a ton of post are very interesting. All in all I have had some of my most interesting conversations here in years. Right clicking on a members name will open the option to private message them if they have that option turned on, or see some profile aspects like their homepage. Welcome!

Thanks for all the information Stephen. It will take me awhile to look at it all. Thanks for the input on my work. All the constructive critisism helps greatly.
Daniel did have a broken nose.. good eye. I gave him the broken nose but you can't see it at this angle. And the Mayor is still with us and was grateful for my sculpture. He has it on display in the town wher I have my shop.
I did look at your website. I have a friend that works with the cernit clays and he makes Celtic figures. Good job. Philippe has encouraged me to take some forensic sculpture classes. I will when I have the time. I'm a CSI freak!

[dollhaven]

Welcome Tammy. I hope we see plenty of you around in the forums. Your work looks good to me but what do I know?... I'm just a welder.

And great intro Stephen. Maybe you should be the head of our welcoming committee?!

Sam

Hey Sam. Thanks! You are a true Welder. I loved the Gaurdian. That's a great piece!
I think everyone's input will help me gain a lot of information to expand my sculpting career.
Look forward to looking around....

[dollhaven]

welcome Tammy, great to have another lady on the forum!


Thanks Anne. My favorite is your "Marie". I hope to expand ny sculpting career. I'm just starting out. I'm getting ready to send out portfolios... wish me luck!

[dollhaven]

Stunning.

Welcome :)


You're work is great! I love the patinas! I'm not into abstract metal but your composition is wonderful. Having the eye to put it all in the right places is a wonderful gift.
Look forward to chatting with everyone!

[fritchie]

Tammy - I just saw your post, and you already have a dozen or so replies! Let me add my greetings. Your clays are very expressive. I think that’s what jwebb meant by “unstudied” - not overworked, but very fresh. Great to have another good figurist, and another voice speaking for the ladies.

[JAZ]

Hi, Tammy,
Very nice work. Since you want to continue to do both, I wonder if what you showed us is an indication of some of what might be represented in the dolls. Have you done portrait dolls or ones that have the individualized, realistic, broken-nose-and-all characteristics that your sculptures have? I'm not very familiar with the doll business, but my mental image suggests idealized children, mostly female. Your sculptures are all males with rugged features.

[jwebb]

"Unstudied" is a vague term, sorry. I mean that your pieces seem very fresh and whole and accurately seen. It's Art Critic talk, which I don't really like. It kind of means its own opposite, in that it takes a lot of very careful study and execution to make a piece look unstudied.

[dollhaven]

Hello Fritchie! Thanks for the input. I didn't take the "unstudied" word as anything but constructive. i just didn't know what it meant. I'm glad itr was a compliment. Ha!

I've just started scultping.. 20 pieces or so, and I try to capture those "little somethings" that make the clay> the model. My friend, Philippe, also my "Mentor", is trying to teach me speed. It takes me forever to get a piece done. Mostly due to sculpting late... running my shop a 1000 hours.

I really decided this year to make myself allow time to sculpt. It is something I've always wanted to do and is definately in my blood.

Any input or advice will always be welcome from all!

[dollhaven]

Hey Jaz. Thanks! I'm overwhelmed with the input. I didn't think that I would get this many responses so quickly. It's very cool!

Yes, I just started doing portrait dolls. I attached my first and one in the process. i also attached my first original doll, Addy.

I'm in the process of sculpting 2 young women now. I have many that I want to do.. just the time to do it will be my dilemma.

Let me know what you think!

[Stephen Casey]

Your coming along quite nicely. Aim high as it appears you hit close close to your mark.

[JAZ]

I know what you mean about time, but you certainly seem to be finding enough to keep things rolling. I don't do this kind of work at all - I'm a welder mostly now - but in comparing your doll faces to the children you are modelling from the older girl's features, especially the eyes, seem a bit big for the width of the head, though as I said, I'm no expert. But the thing that strikes me most is the thought of these parents handing their child a doll in her own likeness. That's mind boggling. And since they are one-of-a-kind, they must be quite expensive as a gift for a kid, proving that people do have the money. I imagine you will have a strong market for them because they are so very personal.

[dollhaven]

Hey Jaz. Good eye....the eyes are larger. See, you do have an eye for proportion. When a doll is made, the eyes are the expression so we are taught to make them somewhat larger. I took this picture upside down so it shows them without the shadows as much but they are larger.

As for getting paid... these are all my approach to learning. One was a commision but all the others I have that I want to do... are practice for me. I approached them to use thier likeness because I was attracted to thier features. The one I'm working on now, is a granddaughter of one of my students. I've approached waitresses, store clerks, customers, anyone that caught my eye. This way, I can practice. I'll give them the piece after using them for shows, my portfolio that I'm trying to put together, my website, etc. It would be great to be getting paid but with me just starting out, I think the way I'm approachung it will make me work harder at it to get it done.
And look at it this way... having someone care enough to get a doll or bust made of you, is definately from the heart and will be cherished and preserved forever.

[dollhaven]

Hi Stephen. Thanks for the push but I'm very far from my mark. I think an artist will always learn and will always improve if they push themselves. I will always think I can do it alittle better so I don't allow myself to expand and reach higher.
I looked at your chess pieces. That will be pretty neat when you get it done. I would like to see it after you get one finished.
I hope I didn't sound too harsh but this is how I feel to make myself work. I think everyone can improve and keep improving if they have it in thier hearts and minds.

[fritchie]

Hey Jaz. Good eye....the eyes are larger. See, you do have an eye for proportion. When a doll is made, the eyes are the expression so we are taught to make them somewhat larger. I took this picture upside down so it shows them without the shadows as much but they are larger. .. deletions ..


Tammy - I’m sure you know this, but I’m posting it mainly for the benefit of others who may not have studied the figure as much.

Those large eyes are part of an “ensemble of childhood” which is well understood by cartoon artists, doll makers, and so on. They are characteristic of Disney figures, and are understood instinctively by most mammalian animals, if not also by others. Infants of most species have heads large in proportion to their bodies, and possibly the eyes also are exaggerated with respect to the head. I’m not sure about this last point.

The main issue for sculptors is to recognize this fact and deal with it appropriately. Typically, figures rendered this close to reality (in sculpture) don’t have deliberate exaggerations, Of course, many artists distort the figure deliberately for one reason or another. Someone (Anne, I think) mentioned Giacometti in another forum, and El Greco is well-known for his elongated figures as well. In fact, both painters and sculptors of the last century, the twentieth, deliberately have produced cartoonish figures in serious art.

It simply should be a matter of intentional choice.

[sculptor]

Those large eyes are part of an “ensemble of childhood” which is well understood by cartoon artists, doll makers, and so on. They are characteristic of Disney figures, and are understood instinctively by most mammalian animals, if not also by others. Infants of most species have heads large in proportion to their bodies, and possibly the eyes also are exaggerated with respect to the head. I’m not sure about this last point.

The main issue for sculptors is to recognize this fact and deal with it appropriately. Typically, figures rendered this close to reality (in sculpture) don’t have deliberate exaggerations, Of course, many artists distort the figure deliberately for one reason or another. .

Yes the eyes in an infant are large in proportion to the head and head in proportion to the body------this helps get the nurturing bonding protective instincts working in adults------though is most likely caused by relative developemental constraints of neural tissue.

as/re---deliberate exaggerations.........my isis has shorter arms to mimic the angle on egyptian temples-----mermaid has androgenously morphed body----
I met Roger Swain (victory garden) at the INLA and he said they computer sculpted his head with hundreds of photographs and a lazer carving machine--absolute photorealism--When a machine can do photorealism----the niche left for an artist is deliberate exaggerations-----making the portrait client more handsome, pretty, younger, stronger-fixing a broken nose, etc...we have the relative freedom of morphing our work toward our perceived ideal------maybe that's arcane(sp?) but I like it.

rod(sculptor)

[rderr.com]

Gertrude Stein to Pablo Picasso on viewing his portrait of her:
“This is not like me.”
“No. but you will look like that.”

Art will always be provocation. The rest is decoration

Ardor or Order

[Stephen Casey]

Michelangelo's Pieta, no only is Mary enormous, she has the preportionate age wipped away. And it works.

As for human portraits like your dolls. I would reconsider what is suggested and what your own aims are. I think some sculptors could do with less accurate represintation as the display in bronze can have unforgiving shadows.

One sculpture would have less defined cheeks on the little girl, less accurate but would suit some viewers taste.

I once had a long discution on this line with a very experienced mortition. They are sculptors too. Less recognition but better pay. He was wearing a $1200 suit and driving a Jag.

I see you were doing these pieces for skill development. Giving them away is your porrogative But I would Digitally Photograph them first. Oops I bet you already are.

I know of an artist that specializes in portraits, most of passed loved ones. She does fine work. You may already know of her. My favorites are terribly throwen together. I will organize and send you the link in a couple days.

[dollhaven]

Hey Ritchie. Thanks for that interpretation. I had to read it many times before this "blonde" understood what you meant. I do realize that I did make the eyes larger and I realize also that they were larger than the model.
I did do this due to making a doll but I did have many people point out that the eyes were larger than the original picture. When they pointed it put, after the mold was made, I saw that they were larger than I even thought they were in the sculpt.
I chucked it up to learning.
I have a long way to go with my work. That's why I'm recruiting the people I have to practice on. That doll was my first attempt at doing a portrait doll. Doing the dolls are quite difficult due to myself liking large eyes in the dolls that I make. It's hard for me to make them smaller but I'm working on it.
I am so glad that I'm getting so many different point of views. I learn from it all.
Thanks!

[JAZ]

Dear Tammy,
The eye issue is really a philosophical one. If the piece is intended as a doll, then the scale of the eyes may be very appropriate for two reasons: children are biologically programmed to respond to eyes and also dolls appropriately often romanticize the figure. However, you presented them as sculptural renderings of specific people. My comment was only intended to point out a distinction between the photo and the bust, assuming that you wanted it to accurately reflect what you saw - traditional figuration. And I saw those portrait doll/heads in comparison with the two heads of the gentlemen you showed us, where your goal seemed to be anatomical accuracy. There are many supremely successful figurative artists whose style includes major exaggerations of the figure. Botero, for instance, always makes his bronze figures very short and round, both animals and people. Modigliani made his tall and slender. The painter John Curran, who is now exhibiting in every museum, paints contemporary women with 16th century bodies (slender, rounded bellies), except that the breasts on some of them are gigantic like bulbous watermelons. (aching back time.)
These artists chose that style. You could, if you decided it fit with your aesthetic, exaggerate consistently, to emphasize some aspect.
I think your dolls are amazing and as a sculptor you have lots going for you.
Joyce

[anne (bxl)]

The painter John Curran, who is now exhibiting in every museum, paints contemporary women with 16th century bodies (slender, rounded bellies), except that the breasts on some of them are gigantic like bulbous watermelons. (aching back time.)

John Currin is exhibiting at the Whitney (NY) till february 22

[fritchie]

John Curran was featured in a New York Times article a week or two ago, and I have to say that when I first saw the work, my first impression was that he must hate women (though in an accompanying photo, he was wearing a wedding ring).

I also have disliked Botero’s work since first view some thirty or so years ago, but his gargantuan, fat figures, possibly 15 to 20 feet long in reclining poses, seem to have been very popular with children when they were put on temporary view in New York, Paris, Mexico City and probably elsewhere about 5 - 7 years go. Similarly, I never have cared for Giacometti, though I find Modigliani OK. Maybe I saw his work at an early enough age to become acclimated. I realize these are personal reactions and won’t be shared by everyone. To each his (or her) own, and the future will accept or reject the work (again, most commonly on a temporary basis and until styles shift, as they always do).

[Roy]

Hello Tammy- I think I finially figured out what I have been doing wrong on my replies. I'm too slow, and I was trying to reply after the last reply.

I hope you will share your work with full body sculpture. I will try to get some pictures of my busts. They are nothing next to your faces but I'm proud of them.

[JAZ]

I agree about the impression Curran gives regarding his opinion of women. I saw his show at the contemporary art museum in Chicago when I was there for the PierWalk installation. There was a portrait he did of his wife. It was, well, hmmm. Actually, she did not suffer from gargantuan breasts anyway. Every museum I've been in since then had something of his. He also did a show at the MFA in Boston that's part of a series where artists choose works from the permanent collection and pair them in new ways. His choices were odd and his explanations puzzling. The Globe or Art New England, I forget which, did a piece on it showing that they were mystified too. I think he makes a concerted effort to keep people off balance. His approach seems contrived to me, but it's obviously working, isnce he's the painter of the moment. His technical skills are very good. It's just the exaggerations and tone of the works that are bizarre.

[fritchie]

I agree about the impression Curran gives regarding his opinion of women. I saw his show at the contemporary art museum in Chicago when I was there for the PierWalk installation. There was a portrait he did of his wife. It was, well, hmmm. Actually, she did not suffer from gargantuan breasts anyway. Every museum I've been in since then had something of his. He also did a show at the MFA in Boston that's part of a series where artists choose works from the permanent collection and pair them in new ways. His choices were odd and his explanations puzzling. The Globe or Art New England, I forget which, did a piece on it showing that they were mystified too. I think he makes a concerted effort to keep people off balance. His approach seems contrived to me, but it's obviously working, isnce he's the painter of the moment. His technical skills are very good. It's just the exaggerations and tone of the works that are bizarre.

JAZ - I'm reluctant to go on witrh this thread, because I think it just feeds the current media frenzy. I almost posted on the NYT review I mentioned, but didn't for this very reason. It’s like the headache ads which were so common on US TV years go, before companies started with a whole array of drugs they sell people for everyday use. Viewers complained routinely, but any comment at all is just what the producer wants. The best weapon against false promotion is disregard.

And thanks for confirming my feeling. My immediate comparison was to the photographer Diane Arbus. At least she’s been around so long, news really is news, whatever her position in art.

[jwebb]

It's probably not worth noting, but wearing a wedding ring and hating women are, unfortunately, not mutually exclusive. I don't know about you all, but fear and loathing were "family values" in the home where I grew up.

[dollhaven]

;) Dear Tammy,
The eye issue is really a philosophical one. If the piece is intended as a doll, then the scale of the eyes may be very appropriate for two reasons: children are biologically programmed to respond to eyes and also dolls appropriately often romanticize the figure. However, you presented them as sculptural renderings of specific people. My comment was only intended to point out a distinction between the photo and the bust, assuming that you wanted it to accurately reflect what you saw - traditional figuration. And I saw those portrait doll/heads in comparison with the two heads of the gentlemen you showed us, where your goal seemed to be anatomical accuracy. There are many supremely successful figurative artists whose style includes major exaggerations of the figure. Botero, for instance, always makes his bronze figures very short and round, both animals and people. Modigliani made his tall and slender. The painter John Curran, who is now exhibiting in every museum, paints contemporary women with 16th century bodies (slender, rounded bellies), except that the breasts on some of them are gigantic like bulbous watermelons. (aching back time.)
These artists chose that style. You could, if you decided it fit with your aesthetic, exaggerate consistently, to emphasize some aspect.
I think your dolls are amazing and as a sculptor you have lots going for you.
Joyce


Hi Joyce. Thank you so much. I am trying so hard to make sure I get the right proprotions. My teacher/mentor/friend, smacks my hands because I've never studied Anatomy, other famou sculptor's, etc. I think I've picked up on my proprtiontions from making my dolls and hwelping others make dolls.

When I took my first sculpting class, I've been in heaven since. I work many, many hours at my shop. Hopefully, one day, I'll be able to sculpt at my shop along with everything else I do there.

As for portraiture, I will always strive to get them as close as possible. With the dolls, I think I naturally sculpt what I want to see in the doll. I really got some discussing going on here, didn't I?? :D

Tammy

[dollhaven]

Hello Tammy- I think I finially figured out what I have been doing wrong on my replies. I'm too slow, and I was trying to reply after the last reply.

I hope you will share your work with full body sculpture. I will try to get some pictures of my busts. They are nothing next to your faces but I'm proud of them.

Hi Roy. Looking forward to your pictures. Than you for your compl;iments on my work. Everyone will give you a lot of info here so be ready..... it's all good!

[dollhaven]

I have a question for everyone. Joining the ISC....
I wanted to know if the members have found that being able to go further into the site; opportunity section, competition section, etc. has helped them broaden their sculpting??
I was thinking about joining but wanted some input if I may ask...

[Roy]

Hi Tammy,

Don't let a lack of formal training in anatomy keep you from starting a full body sculpture. If you pay attention to the basic proportions in the armature, I beleve you will automatically fill it in with the correct proportions. I think you are a natural and will find this even easier that a bust.

[sculptorsam]

I have a question for everyone. Joining the ISC....
I wanted to know if the members have found that being able to go further into the site; opportunity section, competition section, etc. has helped them broaden their sculpting??
I was thinking about joining but wanted some input if I may ask...

It could help your sculpting if you used the classifieds for workshops, classes, etc. But the Opportunities section is a great place to learn about competitions, grants, calls for art, that sort of thing.

Sam

[dollhaven]

Hi Tammy,

Don't let a lack of formal training in anatomy keep you from starting a full body sculpture. If you pay attention to the basic proportions in the armature, I beleve you will automatically fill it in with the correct proportions. I think you are a natural and will find this even easier that a bust.

Thanks Roy. I truley appreciate everyone's comments.
Don't worry, I'm not one to be held back or discouraged. Just ask my husband!

I have an 11 inch nude woman that I did and poured up in wax. I'm refining her. I think she turned out pretty well. I'll post her after I get done with the refining. I would love to bronze her. I will eventually.

I'm just learning about the wax, rubber molds, bronzing, etc. It facinates me.
I really want to learn how to do the lost wax and my own bronzing. In due time... I always want it before I'm ready.
Tammy

[dollhaven]

It could help your sculpting if you used the classifieds for workshops, classes, etc. But the Opportunities section is a great place to learn about competitions, grants, calls for art, that sort of thing.

Sam

Hi Sam. Thanks. I wasn't sure.

I'm trying to get something ready for April to enter in the National Sculpture competition. Philippe told me that I should have entered something last year for the recognition but I ran out of time. I'm trying hard this year.
I will get some critism there.

I think I might join just to keep myself pushed to sculpt. If I give myself some deadlines... competitions.. I'll get some sculpting experience in after work, improve on my speed, and get some great feedback on what I need to work on. I'm nervous but that won't stop me.

Thanks again!
Tammy

[Roy]

I'm not one to be held back or discouraged.

Hi Tammy,

I'm glad you're moving forward with your sculpture. Please do keep us posted.

[dollhaven]

Hello everyone. I'm sorry I just left the forum so quickly. My lost my Father and haven't been doing anything except being with my family. I will be getting back on here in the near future after I catch up at my shop. I just wanted to let you know so you didn't think I just left.
Thanks.
Tammy

[JAZ]

Hello everyone. I'm sorry I just left the forum so quickly. My lost my Father and haven't been doing anything except being with my family. I will be getting back on here in the near future after I catch up at my shop. I just wanted to let you know so you didn't think I just left.
Thanks.
Tammy
Tammy, I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Maybe it was a situation where his passing was for the better or at the end of a long, productive life. It's so difficult to lose someone close to you, but they really live on in the memories you have of the things you shared. My father died suddenly when I was in my twenties and I remember that it took a long time to come to grips with because it was unexpected. I wish you and your family the best.

[dollhaven]

Tammy, I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Maybe it was a situation where his passing was for the better or at the end of a long, productive life. It's so difficult to lose someone close to you, but they really live on in the memories you have of the things you shared. My father died suddenly when I was in my twenties and I remember that it took a long time to come to grips with because it was unexpected. I wish you and your family the best.

Thank you Jaz. It's been real hard. I have many great memories with him. He was the best Father. He will live on forever in my heart.
Thank you again. I will be back on here after I catch up on some things pending.
Take care. Tammy

[Roy]

Thank you Jaz. It's been real hard. I have many great memories with him. He was the best Father. He will live on forever in my heart.

Welcome back Tammy. I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Getting involved in life will help you deal it.