How is a Portrait Made?

Creating a portrait involves the sitter being looked at for some considerable time!  Some people may feel a little self-conscious, initially.  So Ruth prefers, adults especially, to talk to her.  This leads to a much more lively portrait.  Children usually find it more pleasurable to listen to a story tape, some of the time, while artist and sitter are getting to know each other.

Six or eight sittings of an hour and a half is usually enough to complete the first stage of the sculpture. Clay is built up on an armature and when the artist is satisfied with the results, a cast is made.

This is then converted into bronze or resin bronze (imitation bronze) which is a complicated process. Then a coloured patina is applied to the surface. The sculpture is then mounted on a base for more stability.