Like parts of a puzzle, as work progresses on a sculpture they evolve, and since Ken’s work it not captured with a photograph, but from an emotional response to an experience it constantly changes as he captures his mind’s eye and creates a sculptural piece of art.
*Ken reflects on an experience, investigates his observations while viewing the bird/animal in the wild, sometimes with his naked eye, other times with binoculars. He then goes to his sketchbook and does a thumbnail sketch, usually only one or two.
*Reference material is researched to understand the anatomy, their habitat, and other characteristics of the subject. Sometimes he is even fortunate enough to have access to a specimen.
* Back to the field for more observations base on his research. No photos just imprinting the actual bird in his mind. Only then does he start a sculpture in clay.
*An armature is created and then Ken spends anywhere from a month to a year moving the clay, changing the posture until the sculpture captures the essence of the bird in his minds eye.
Observing Grace, the curlew is a perfect example of how some sculptures evolve. In observing the graceful image of their accent and landing Ken uses his artistic license to create an interpretive sculpture, full of movement and grace. Patinas are developed at the foundry to compliment the movement in the sculpture.
