The Robes of a Saint

Once I had a chance to sculpt out the feet I began massing in the flow of his robes. I still kept the hem of the robe shy of the floor so I could touch up his feet later on. Also, being able to see his feet while sculpting really helps visually ground the figure. Once I began sculpting the flow of the robe, I saw the movement that could be portrayed. In my mind, St. Anthony seemed to be standing at the top of a mountain preparing to preach while confidently holding the Christ Child in his arms. He sways back and forth to comfort the child.

(Above) A couple of closeups of the child in his arms. I really want to make sure I have his arms and hands in the proper locations before I sculpt on his sleeves, so that is why I he is currently wearing a robe without sleeves. You can see my computer monitor in the background on the right. I put images of my model from different angles here depending on what I am working on. At the moment you can see the painting of St. Francis in the desert by Giovanni Bellini. I found it to be one of the many images that was most informative on the dress of the Franciscans of the middle ages and therefore; St. Anthony. St. Francis and St. Anthony both lived at the same time and ministered in Italy.

Roughing in the Figures

Detail of St. Anthony & Child

Roughing the figures in nude is important because then I know where the knee will push against the robe. It is the cloth that will conform to the structure that lies underneath.

Here I begin massing in the figure being careful to remain loose and open to changes. My main goal at this stage is to get the gesture. I spend a lot of time measuring from all directions and use toothpicks to mark major points on the body such as top of knee, 7th C., shoulders, hips, nose, etc... This makes it easier to always be measuring from the same common locations and is useful later on when I begin massing in the clothing.

The Building of 1/4 Life Size Armature, "St Anthony & Child"

And here begins the skeleton from which the sculpture will emerge. It is important to see past the stick figure and focus on the core of the gesture which lies on the placement of the bones.

Renderings for a new Commission

Here is one of the sketches that I produced for the Saint Anthony Hospital being built in Gig Harbor. The work will be cast in bronze and stand in the hospital's entry lobby.