Maquette

A maquette is a sculptor’s small, preliminary model or sketch in 3D. The process of working up a maquette helps a sculptor rapidly get an idea out of their mind and in full dimension to consider more specifically how that figure might translate at a larger scale. Throughout history maquettes have been preserved and gained a life all their own whether or not the work is enlarged. Often I use this process to rapidly grab a gesture as a painter or draftsman might use a sketchpad. The process helps rapid assessment of proportions, locomotion and gestural expression of the subject and allows a fast route to shifting body expression to positions animals might not typically take in their day to day activities. The process also helps me explore how novel materials may or may not marry well with a larger figure that would require a bigger investment.