Artist’s Statement

This piece actually started out as a bust of a sweet little girl with pigtails. But about half way through executing that original idea, I got bored. (Not that little girls with pigtails really are boring, mind you!). The thing was, the sculpture I was doing was visually boring and routine in the making. So, I just started to go wild without any plan or goal with the clay. I began by taking the girl’s generic cute smile and throwing in a little Billy Idol snarl (he was one of my favorite rockers in the 80’s). Then, I cocked his head as if giving him a bit of attitude. The crazy eyes just seemed to fit the whole snarl motif (if a “snarl” can be called a “motif”).

The hair was pretty fun to do. I actually tried a few different styles on this guy. I liked the one I stuck with – it’s kinda wild and youthful.

While the sculpture was away getting fired, I visited a local costume jewelry store that’s absolutely loaded from floor to ceiling with earrings, necklaces, watches, handbags, and so on. I have to admit I felt a little weird looking around for jewelry for this sculpture. I had the hardest time finding nose rings, too. I wanted the jewelry to be typical for what I see on today’s youth in some of the grungier places in St. Louis, like the “Delmar Loop.” So, I ended up buying what’s on the sculpture now, plus some sun glasses that ended up not fitting the piece properly. I didn’t use the sun glasses and gave them to a friend of mine.
When I got the sculpture back from the kiln, I cut a solid oak base for it and began the finishing process. I experimented with various shades of acrylic for the shirt. This was the first sculpture I ever finished with acrylic.

When everything was assembled, I was very pleased. This sculpture represented a fun and wild departure for me from the typical heavy-themed sculptures I tend to make. Not that those pieces aren’t fun to make, but this one just was an experiment in spontaneity! I’ve reserved it for my private collection, and have only displayed it once outside my home. But, if you want to buy it, that’s ok by me. I’m kinda getting freaked out by that one crazy eye staring at me, anyway.