Maybe this is a self-portrait
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325818)
Rockingham, Australia
November 4, 2017 12:05am CST
While we were strolling through Fremantle, Western Australia, a week or two ago, I took a photo of this sculpture which is in a park in the middle of the city. At first I thought it was showing a barber shaving a guy but judging by the tools I think it is someone sculpting a head. So I wonder if the sculptor used himself as a model.
Sculptors are incredibly talented. Look at the way the coat bunches up around the guy’s neck and the folds of the sleeves. They must take in every tiny detail when they look at something. Have you ever tried to fashion something from clay? Probably the nearest I ever got to making something from clay would have been mud pies.
34 people like this
35 responses
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Nov 17
That is an unusual sculpture. Did you ever go to Rodin's studio in Paris? His sculptures including the original The Thinker are on the grounds.
6 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
8 Nov 17
@JudyEv You should have. It is excellent. Also the Picasso and Dali museums.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
5 Nov 17
Wow, I actually really like the sculpture. You're right, it's hard to make clay do what you want it to.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Nov 17
@FayeHazel They make it look easy don't they?
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
8 Nov 17
@JudyEv It would be amazing to watch. I also like watching potters work, hypnotic.
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (3045)
•
6 Nov 17
Yes, it's a sculptor making a bust on an armature (framework). My mom was a good sculptor--she did several portrait busts, including one that is still at West Virginia University, I believe. I'm rather tragic in 3D, preferring to draw and paint, instead. That's a great piece!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Nov 17
@AliCanary My mother was quite good at drawing but it doesn't seem to have rubbed off on me.
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (3045)
•
10 Nov 17
@JudyEv - You can learn--it's never too late! I've had people of all ages in my art classes.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Nov 17
I'd like to see the whole process one day as I don't really understand how it all comes about.
@jobelbojel (34729)
• Philippines
4 Nov 17
It looks like he is the model of his own sculpture.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Nov 17
That's what I thought at first but someone pointed out the hair is different.
@moffittjc (118449)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Nov 17
It's funny that you mentioned mud pies! I was just talking to my son yesterday about mud pies, and telling him how much fun he used to have making them when he was a little kid! The convo started when he asked me what we would do if it rained on our upcoming camping trip in two weeks. I told him we would just make the most of it, and sit around and make mud pies at the campsite! lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118449)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Nov 17
@JudyEv He just laughed when I mentioned mud pies. I just looked at the forecast for the next 10 days, and we do not have any rain in the forecast. It's gong to be nice and sunny and cool!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Nov 17
@moffittjc Ideal for camping. Enjoy.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
4 Nov 17
And snakes! Yes I agree they see every details.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Nov 17
I think artists and sculptors must see things a bit differently to the rest of us.
@Kuttu_007 (1940)
• India
4 Nov 17
He must be really talented...I use to do small models using clay moulds..
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Nov 17
@Kuttu_007 Oh I see. Maybe I would be a good sculptor if I had moulds.
@Kuttu_007 (1940)
• India
9 Nov 17
@JudyEv hahahaha...i don't sculpt but it's easy to make a clay model...when you got a mould..
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45939)
• United States
4 Nov 17
I am amazed at how they carve out beautiful objects out of rock, clay, or other medium.
2 people like this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
4 Nov 17
Sculptors really have skilful hands and they're really so creative.
2 people like this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
9 Nov 17
@JudyEv Yeah especially those with the talent.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73444)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Nov 17
I think the artists was certainly showing himself doing a self-portrait. I worked with clay in both high school and an extra class in university. I failed miserably in trying to translate what I wanted in clay and realized I was not meant to be a sculptor but the process was great fun.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Nov 17
That cone looks well done. If you're an artist, it seems anything goes. Like these pigs in a mall in Adelaide, South Australia.
@peachpurple (13884)
• Malaysia
4 Nov 17
i wonder who is that man in the sculptor?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Nov 17
I don't know. Sometimes there is some information on a plaque but there is nothing on this one.
