Working with Form and Space
Understanding the interplay of form and space is fundamental to creating compelling sculptural work.
Form is the sculptor's primary medium. Understanding how to work with positive and negative space opens up endless creative possibilities.
Sculpture, at its core, is the art of occupying and defining space. Every piece we create fundamentally alters the space around it, creating relationships between the work, the environment, and the viewer.
Material Considerations
The choice of material profoundly affects how a sculpture is perceived. Clay offers warmth and malleability. Stone conveys permanence and weight. Metal can be both rigid and fluid.
Each material brings its own vocabulary, its own set of possibilities and constraints. Learning to work with these properties—rather than against them—is essential to sculptural practice.
Negative Space as Subject
The spaces within and around a sculpture are not merely absences of form—they are compositional elements in their own right, capable of adding depth, mystery, and meaning to a work.
Learning to see negative space as an active element in your composition transforms your sculpture. A void can become as powerful as solid form, framing and defining the work in unexpected ways.
Mastering Scale
The relationship between a sculpture and its viewer—scale—is one of your most powerful tools. Monumental works create awe and contemplation. Intimate pieces invite close examination and personal connection.
Understanding when to embrace large scale and when to work small is a skill developed through practice and experimentation. The key is intentionality: every decision about scale should serve the story you're trying to tell.