It is my belief that you could meet any stranger on the street, and they would have a life story that makes them unique, remarkable, and worthy of a statue. This story is reflected in the character and expressions of their face.

 

I begin my statues by drawing caricature sketches to find the best way to express their personality. Sometimes it is the pure emotion I see first, and sometimes I see the actual person with a dominant physical affect or trait.

 

Once I finalize a drawing with the desired head shape and features, I then begin building the base. The base is a combination of wood, foam, or newspaper for filler and then a final wire covering. The base is then covered with the first layer of wet cement.

 

Next, I add features and personality to the statue. This is the part where the cement begins to take on a life of its own. As I am sculpting and creating - the statue comes alive with its own personality. Often, I will get so enmeshed in the work, that when I finally look up, a character has suddenly appeared before me in the concrete. The great thing about cement is that as a medium, it's messy and hard to predict, just like human beings.

 

My work is in dialogue with the ancient tradition of Roman veristic portraiture, which is characterized by a hyperrealism that exaggerates the naturally occurring features of the subject, often to the point of absurdity. Veristic sculptures were meant to reflect the true individuality of a person.

 

Unlike the Romans who created statues only of noblemen, my work focuses on those everyday people who might otherwise remain anonymous to us. The people we pass on the street have their own struggles, insights, pains, and contributions, but we miss out on connecting with them. It is my intention that my sculptures allow us to experience the true essence of each other, and revive that precious feeling of human connection.