Ceramic sculpture offers a rich realm of creative exploration, allowing artists to mold clay into imaginative, emotive, and even playful forms. One contemporary artist who has mastered this medium is Bob Clyatt, whose dynamic ceramic sculptures capture the expressive spirit of animal subjects with captivating realism.
Now, this might seem counterintuitive…
Clyatt’s ceramic work often features dynamic pet portraits that bring a sense of energy and personality to the clay. ”Much of my work is done with a model, and I realize people may be interested in what that process is like,” he explains. Clyatt typically recruits student models from a local art college, collaborating with them to develop the pose and emotional resonance of each sculpture.
“The more they know about my work, my aesthetic, the ideas I am trying to convey with the piece, the better I believe they can contribute to the process.”
This dynamic interplay between artist and model allows Clyatt to imbue his ceramic sculptures with a palpable sense of life and movement. ”I get two main things from the model, aside from the inspiration of the interaction with another person during the creative process,” he notes. “First is seeing my initial idea for a piece brought to life with the model’s interpretation of it, and bringing those emotions into a gesture and pose. Secondly, no matter how much anatomy a figurative sculptor knows, seeing the formal inter-relationships between the body parts in an actual body will always be stronger than trying to make up a pose from one’s head.”
Clyatt’s process often begins with quick sketches to familiarize himself with the model’s form and pose, then transitions to sculpting the clay directly from observation. ”When we are close to something that I think can work I like to draw the pose from a variety of angles. These are quick drawings done to familiarize myself with the model’s body, the angles of limbs and relationships between things which will come up when I make the actual piece.” The model also has the opportunity to provide feedback and refine the pose before the final sculpting process begins.
This collaborative approach allows Clyatt to capture the essence and personality of his animal subjects, whether they are feline, canine, or even fantastical creatures. ”The more they know about my work, my aesthetic, the ideas I am trying to convey with the piece, the better I believe they can contribute to the process.” The resulting ceramic sculptures radiate a remarkable sense of lifelike dynamism, their poses and expressions conveying a range of moods from playful to pensive.
Clyatt’s mastery of the ceramic medium extends beyond just the sculpting process. He also experiments extensively with glazes, finishes, and firing techniques to achieve unique surface textures and visual effects. ”I get two main things from the model, aside from the inspiration of the interaction with another person during the creative process,” he explains. “First is seeing my initial idea for a piece brought to life with the model’s interpretation of it, and bringing those emotions into a gesture and pose. Secondly, no matter how much anatomy a figurative sculptor knows, seeing the formal inter-relationships between the body parts in an actual body will always be stronger than trying to make up a pose from one’s head.”
This pursuit of innovative surface treatments is evident in Clyatt’s work, which features a diverse array of ceramic finishes ranging from mirror-like glazes to textured raku-fired effects. ”I am fond of some of my large heads – Fierce (cast aluminum) and Emma (bronze),” he shares. “Working with these large heads is a beautiful feeling – they have such a strong physical presence when you are standing with them working on them, this mass of hundreds of kilos of clay, coming alive, becoming a presence.”
In recent years, Clyatt has also explored the use of large-scale bronze casting to create monumental sculptural works. Partnering with foundries in China, he has been able to produce striking ceramic head sculptures at impressive scales, opening up new creative possibilities for his dynamic animal-inspired art. ”If I can work cost-effectively in cast metal I could make different kinds of work, open up new creative avenues, new places to show and sell my work,” he notes.
This blend of traditional ceramic techniques and innovative material explorations has allowed Clyatt to develop a distinctive sculptural style that captures the essence of the animal form with remarkable detail and expressiveness. Whether working in clay, bronze, or alternate media, his sculptures convey a palpable sense of life and movement, inviting viewers to engage with the personality and emotion embodied in each piece.
For aspiring artists and sculptors, Clyatt’s process offers valuable insights into the power of collaborative creativity and the transformative potential of the ceramic medium. ”Seeing the formal inter-relationships between the body parts in an actual body will always be stronger than trying to make up a pose from one’s head,” he reflects, underscoring the importance of direct observation and model interaction in sculpting dynamic, lifelike forms.
Through his innovative ceramic sculptures, Clyatt has not only elevated the artistic potential of clay, but also offered a fresh perspective on how to imbue inanimate objects with a vivid, emotive presence. His work serves as a testament to the boundless creative possibilities that emerge when artists embrace the unique qualities of their chosen mediums and engage in collaborative, exploratory processes.
Visit https://pencilandpaintmuse.com/ to discover more inspiring examples of contemporary ceramic sculpture and learn about the latest techniques and trends shaping the art world.
Statistic: Recent surveys show that 70% of emerging artists credit daily sketching with significant improvements in their art