Start with an Idea! Although every sculpture is unique in its own process, these are some steps that are usually taken to begin. First, it’s easiest if we have photographs of the subject, or at least photo’s of the attitude, stance or positioning of the subject.

Gather Reference Material!  Any photo's that are close to what you are thinking of are extremely helpful. They can vary from extremely accurate, to just a suggestion of the idea. Of course, if this is a likeness that we are producing, quality photo's are required for the best outcome.

Choose a Size and Style! I start a sculpture project with a maquette, a smaller sized clay sculpture, which is much like a three dimensional sketch. In this smaller version, it's much easier to play around with styles and textures, or deciding on something whimsical verses realistic.

This is helpful to give a better idea of my intuition of what a client may have in mind. It also helps foresee any potential difficulties which are much easier to resolve at this stage, opposed to changing a life-size clay form.

Once we agree on the attitude and style that we are looking for, I will take measurements from the maquette to enlarge the final sculpture. Click here for frequently asked questions about commissioning a sculpture.

Please feel free to contact Sculptor, Cathi Cook, with any questions.
Cathi Cook Sculpture Studio
1994 Dorset Drive  Fort Collins, CO 80526  Phone 970.493.8939 
cathi@cathicook.com

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