Guy Rushton Sculpture
Welcome! This is my showcase for some of the range of work that I do and I hope that you enjoy the variety of the work on show here. I believe in innovating, developing both stylistically and in terms of subject so there are some significant changes in style and mood in these pieces.
My work is figurative and largely inspired by classical and ancient sculptural styles rather than contemporary abstract and conceptual art. I work mainly in terracotta, though some of the low-relief work is also available as paper castings and I hope soon to be working in bronze.
Portraiture of both humans and animals is my major subject at the present time. It is still quite new to me and I think the evolving style is evident in the work. I hope to continue to evolve and develop much further as I understand my craft better.
Animal Portraiture
I find the challenge of capturing not just a physical likeness but a feeling of the character of the animal hugely rewarding. I work from photographs that I take and use the shoot time to get to know the subject and get an idea of their character. The 'sitters' do not understand what is going on but some are natural showmen and love the attention of the camera, others hate it and really make me work for my raw material.
I have to take my own pictures, partly because of this learning process, but also because the angles and reference points that I need to produce a good likeness are very different from the normal portrait photograph. It can be a very funny as well as laborious process and considerable ingenuity on the part of the owner and myself has been needed to complete the job!
Human Portraiture
Most of these are portraits of people I know. Capturing the essence of the sitter is the greatest challenge of portraiture, not just a likeness to a particular expression but finding a look that projects their personality and character clearly.This is especially difficult with children and babies!
Getting the subject to relax and almost ignore me is, I think, the key factor in a successful set of reference photographs, though I never use a single picture to work from. The final sculpture is a blend of looks, moods and expressions that aims to capture the true likeness.
I find actually delivering the finished piece both rewarding but also hugely nerve-wracking. Will the subject like it? If it is a child will it pass the doting parent test?
Naive Sculpture
This is an entirely different facet of my work. Their apparent simplicity and humour can be taken at that level but some of the subjects are more complicated than that and I have used this caricature style to communicate the body language and the idea without the need for more complicated realistic figures.
Some of these pieces are simple caricature, though I hope not unkind. I try to pick out the absurd and the humorous but without a sneer, I am at least as ridiculous in my own way and it is not my idea to embarrass people for being themselves.
Other pieces use the naive format to drive at more complex social or political ideas, if you choose to read them in that way. I hope that they do not fall into the trap of being over earnest or 'worthy', they do, I think, state my view quite clearly but they should still work as attractive objects.
Biography
Something about me: where I come from, what I have done and what I do now. Equally importantly there is a little about why I do what I do and what has influenced my work. This is necessarily brief and simplified since I believe that the work stands or falls on its own merits. I believe that I am working in an ongoing tradition but it is for you to judge and like my efforts or not as they appeal to you.
Contact Me
Announcements of upcoming exhibitions, planned events, where you can find my work and how to contact me.