Creating a bronze sculpture starts right here, in the clay and armature stage. This piece, “Runner,” is taking shape slowly but surely. Working with clay lets me bring out the movement and expression—every detail has to feel right before we even think about bronze. The armature underneath is the backbone, holding it steady and giving me the freedom to shape the figure as if it’s mid-stride.
There’s something about this part of the process that’s grounding. Each stroke in the clay, each adjustment to the pose, is a step closer to capturing the spirit of the runner. I take my time here, letting the details speak through the clay before we move on to casting. This stage might be temporary, but it’s where the soul of the piece really starts to show.