Sculpture in Progress: Creating a Monumental Rearing Stallion
As an artist in residence with Joel Prevost at Vancouver Island Sculpting Studio, I’m thrilled to begin a new and, for me, monumental sculpture. One of the most exciting—and challenging—aspects of my work is the journey from initial concept to the finished creation. Currently, I’m embarking on a project that has me especially excited: a large-scale sculpture of a rearing stallion, standing over four feet tall. This piece will be a true celebration of movement, power, and grace, and I can’t wait to share the creative process with you as it unfolds.
Bringing the Stallion to Life
For me, the stallion represents so much more than just an animal. Horses, with their incredible strength and beauty, have always fascinated me. There’s a freedom in their movement, a raw energy that’s almost contagious. When I envisioned this piece, I knew I wanted to capture that sense of life and spirit in a way that would be powerful and emotionally resonant.
The idea behind the sculpture is to freeze the horse in a moment of motion—rearing up, muscles taut, mane flowing. I want this piece to exude vitality, like the horse is just about to leap into action. Every detail, from the rippling muscles to the curve of the neck, has to convey that sense of living, breathing power.
The Creative Process: From Vision to Form
One of the most rewarding aspects of creating a sculpture is watching it evolve. The starting point is always the inspiration, trying to figure out the best way to capture the movement, the proportions, and the feeling I want to convey. With a piece as dynamic as this rearing stallion, getting the pose just right is key. There’s a lot of trial and error at this stage—figuring out how the horse’s body should move, where the tension lies in the muscles, how the weight is distributed.
Once the project is fully envisioned, I begin the sculpting process itself. At first, I’ll work with the armature to shape the basic form. This stage is all about getting the proportions and posture down before moving on to the more detailed work. After that, I’ll refine the texture, adding the intricate details that bring the horse to life—its bones and muscles, the texture of the coat, the flow of the mane. This is the part of the process that excites me the most, where the piece truly begins to take on a personality.
The Influence of Nature and Emotion
When I create a sculpture, I’m always deeply inspired by the natural world. Horses, in particular, have always held a special place in my heart. They symbolize freedom, strength, and beauty, and those are the emotions I want to convey through this piece. But it’s not just about capturing a horse; it’s about capturing a feeling. Every time I sculpt, I ask myself: How do I make this feel like more than just an object? How do I make it resonate with people?
That’s where the connection between my work and emotion comes into play. Whether I’m working on a horse or any other subject, I’m always thinking about the feelings I want to evoke. For this stallion, I want people to feel its power, its energy, its almost untamable spirit. I want them to be able to imagine it moving, hear the sound of hooves, and feel the wind in its mane.
Watching It Take Shape
The beauty of creating a piece like this is watching it unfold before my eyes. Every time I add a layer of detail, every time I adjust the posture or the texture, it feels like I’m unlocking a new part of the horse’s story. It’s a long process, but it’s a rewarding one. As the stallion takes shape, I can already sense the kind of impact it will have when it’s complete.
This sculpture won’t just be a static piece of art—it will be a monument to life, to movement, to the incredible energy of the natural world. And as I get closer to finishing it, I’m reminded of how much I love the process of sculpting: the way an idea starts as a simple sketch or idea and transforms into something tangible, something that speaks to the soul.
I can’t wait to share more updates as the rearing stallion evolves. It’s an exciting journey, and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to share it with you.
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