THE CHURCHILL PROJECT

Images and videos revealing the process involved in the life of a portrait sculpture.

THE INSPIRATION

Countless, biographies, films and podcasts have contributed to this work. The complete Readers Digest collection of his wartime speeches on LPs was invaluable.

Represented here is Churchill standing up in parliament in May 1940. Unlike usual portrayals that have his face lowered I have raised his chin, set against the current of the time, in an act of courage and defiance. A critical chapter of his life and the life of Western democracy. 

This portrait is not just about resemblances but the deeper biographical insights, that reveal the facets of hope and faith that shaped the decisions of this man’s life. 

Rodin once said “there is no artistic work that requires as much penetrating insight as the bust and the portrait.. “ Portrait sculpture is all about humanity, being in many ways the most consummate acknowledgment and celebration of personality available in the arts. There is no better subject for this than Churchill.  

An updated bronze design is now being cast with a limited 10 editions soon to be available. See the BRONZE FOR SALE page in the MENU above for details

“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat”.

Winston Churchill

THE ARMATURE

The sculptor works out their concept from the inner bones up. First stage of the process: the collection of images, creation of drawings, formulation of design. The second stage: upscaling the design into the full scale model, the creation of the armature- the bones of the process.

THE CLAY

The third stage of the process: adding the clay. This should initially be approached as an addition to the armature, restricting work to elements of size and proportion. Forth stage: modelling the clay.

THE BRONZE

The fifth stage of the process: following the completion of the clay modelling, a rubber mould is taken from which a wax casting is made. A ceramic mould is then taken from the wax, all of which is subjected to the lost wax casting method resulting in the bronze.

The sixth stage: working the bronze- grinding, filing and polishing the metal.

The sixth stage: the addition of the patina and the final wax and polish.

THE OUTCOME

The clay modelling of Churchill, with accompanying narrative by the subject.