Sittings and Reseach
If we’re unable to meet the celebrity for a Sitting, we will carry out extensive research to get as much information as possible. We use a large number of resources in our research including picture agencies, specialist organisations, footage, the internet and reference books. Each figure is unique and people can require more complex research depending on the figure pose or expression.
We try to replicate a Sitting with research and gather hundreds of photographs. We look for photos from as many different angles as we can. We also have to find images for the different Studio departments; for costume detail, hair style and make up. On average it takes the research department two weeks to research a figure and prepare the file for the sculptor.
Sometimes when a celebrity is unable to provide a Sitting, their family are able to donate a costume or provide us with useful information. By talking to family members, we are able to better understand the celebrities’ personality which is so useful when capturing personality into the sculpture.
Are figures sculpted from Sittings better than those sculpted from research? Well, some sculptors say yes because they have much more information to work from, whilst others believe that some of the most impressive figures have been those sculpted from research…
Check back next week to find out how we sculpt the clay head!
