Remembering Scott, clay, 16 x 9” (41 x 23 cm)Mary Buckman
Inspiration
This sculpture is a portrait of my older brother, Scott. When we were children, he was my hero and I followed him everywhere, always hoping he would let his little sister tag along with him on his adventures. Scott passed away two years ago, but the memories of his kindness and the bond we shared remain with me. This portrait is my way of honoring him and keeping those memories alive.
Process
I began my sculpture by using old photos of my brother, putting together a composition that would represent his posture and mood. I blocked up the bust with my favorite water-based clay. I do not use an armature, so I blocked the sculpture with solid clay. When my portrait was finished, I then hollowed out the clay and prepared the sculpture to fire in the kiln. After the bust was fired, I applied an acrylic wash to bring out the features of his face.
Self Portrait, charcoal and chalk, 17 x 18½” (43 x 47 cm)Kalina Tosheva
Inspiration
Drawing from my years in Florence, I aimed for an approach that embraces the sculptural quality of draftsmanship, respecting form through disciplined observation, careful selection, and a constant return to the grace and psychology of the subject. The ¾ tilt into the falling overhead light nods to the masters I studied in Italy, while the averted gaze creates a gentler atmosphere than I would normally choose, inviting the viewer into the private moment of the subject. It opened an opportunity to view myself with a clarity and softness I had not been able to access in previous self-portrait works. As an attempt to express femininity in a way that feels honest and truthful to myself, it has become my most personally significant self-portrait so far.
Process
I began by toning Arches cold-pressed watercolor paper with a diluted black ink wash to establish a muted, atmospheric tone. Once dry, I massed in the major shapes using soft, broad charcoal to set the gesture and overall value structure. I refined the drawing with a General’s charcoal pencil, tightening the proportions and transitions. Once the forms were stable, I gradually built the lights with a Conté white chalk pencil, constantly comparing the value key to the subtle highlights and lost edges across the face. I finished by deepening the darkest accents with Russian sauce pastel, using it sparingly to preserve a clear value hierarchy.
Young Padawan, oil on linen, 29 x 15” (74 x 39 cm)Casey Childs
Inspiration
When my older boys were young, about this age, I painted portraits of them using gold leaf in the background. I wanted this painting to match the other two paintings but wanted this background to be a little different. This portrait captures a quiet, familiar moment: my son watching the iPad, absorbed in his own world and lit by the glow of the screen. The light on his face feels almost sacred, turning an ordinary scene into something more reflective and still. The title Young Padawan, inspired by Star Wars, frames this moment as part of a larger idea of learning and becoming. Like a student training in the ways of the Force, he is focused, curious and completely immersed. The gold patterns surrounding him echo a sense of reverence, elevating this everyday experience into something timeless.
Process
I experimented with the look of the background design by applying gold leaf in different ways to a few scraps of canvas and decided it would look best if the lines in the design under the gold leaf were raised. To accomplish that, I piped thin and thick lines of gesso with a cake decorating bag onto the surface of the canvas. After the gesso dried, I covered the entire background with gold leaf. I left blank canvas in the areas where I wanted oil paint. I completed the painting using my normal painting process for his portrait and body.
Jaded, plaster, 18 x 16 x 10” (46 x 41 x 26 cm)Jordan Hein
Inspiration
The inspiration behind this work was a sense of tension and suspense. Although the sitter is a genuinely kind and gentle soul, the moment he assumed this pose, his demeanor transformed. He suddenly reminded me of a character from A Clockwork Orange, projecting an intensity that was both compelling and slightly unsettling. I wanted the sculpture to capture that unexpected shift in personality and invite viewers to experience the same feeling of curiosity and unease. My goal was to convey the emotional atmosphere that emerged during the sitting.
Process
This piece was created entirely from life over the course of approximately 30 hours. After completing the clay model, I made a mold and cast the sculpture in plaster, which allowed me to continue refining the form and surface. Once the final details were resolved, I applied layers of paint and clay to develop a richly patinated surface that enhances the mood and character of the piece. The finish was carefully built up to emphasize the sculpture’s expressive qualities while maintaining the immediacy and vitality of working directly from life.