The first phase in the creation of a monumental sculpture is the production of a maquette, to scale, which is produced in the same materials as the full-size monument. For instance, the maquette for ARRIVAL is in approximately 1/6 scale, cast in bronze and stainless steel. The maquette is 18 1/2 inches tall, translating into a 9 foot tall monument, weighing 290 pounds. The maquette should be viewed with this increased scale in mind. In other words, while you will likely be looking down on an 18 inch sculpture, you will be viewing a 9 foot sculpture with a level gaze, and/or even looking up at it.

I always re-sculpt the monument from scratch, using the maquette as a reference only. This allows me to take full advantage of the increased scale for more or less detail, or compose the sculpture to better fit a larger size. The result is a fresh, spontaneous new artwork that is comfortable in its size.

I usually produce the maquette in an edition of 21, and the monument in a smaller edition, with one Artists Proof, and one Foundry Proof. CATHEDRAL SPRINGS and ARRIVAL are editions of ten. It is possible to make a "one of a kind", or "site-specific" sculpture, but the price increase is dramatic. The fixed costs of a site-specific sculpture, such as my time investment and the mold-making cost, remain the same, but there is no edition over which to amortize these expenses.

COMMISSIONING

Commissioning a monument involves agreement on subject matter, establishing a budget for the entire project, and an estimated or desired date of installation. The next step is creation of a maquette, and choosing whether the maquette presentation is to be wax/clay, photographs, or finished metal. The difference between these choices is time (one to five months, clay to metal).

Approval of the maquette initiates the project, beginning with payment of the first installment of the sculpture budget. The second payment is due upon approval of the full-size clay/wax artwork, either by a personal visit to my studio, or from photographs. The balance, plus crating, shipping, and installation expenses will be due upon installation or delivery, if the site is not ready on time. (I usually don't charge for my installation time.)

I am always happy to answer any further questions you may have about commissioning large sculptures.