Humor In Art

For those of us who have parents now in their sixties, seventies, or even older, it can feel like there isn’t a gift we haven’t given dad before on his special day. Now and then, it’s nice to receive a gift that is one of a kind and possesses real uniqueness. This Father’s Day, consider portrait sculptures for dear old dad. A portrait sculptures is a unique creation designed in the image of the old man himself. It is a keepsake to be treasured for lifetimes to come, and even to remember dad long after he passes. In the not so distant past, nobles would often have their own image created in a painting or sculpture, but now this service is available to all people, not just those of royal blood. Portrait sculptures make a great gift for Father’s Day, and are guaranteed to be a gift that dad has never received before.

With Father’s Day fast approaching, now is the time to seek out a sculptor and have a portrait sculpture made for dad. He’s sure to love his image immortalized, and will treasure it for the rest of his life.

Clay has long been used as a material for creating sculptures, and because of its malleable nature, can be crafted into a wide range of shapes.  Clay becomes malleable when mixed with water in certain proportions, and while the clay remains wet, it can be shaped and sculpted with ease.  When the clay dries out, it can crack and become rigid.  When fired in a kiln, there are permanent chemical reactions that occur within the clay to prevent it from becoming soft and malleable again.  In ancient times, clay was used for making pottery in various cultures.  Clay is distributed throughout the world, and most often there are numerous layers of clay right below the ground’s surface.  Because of its wide distribution, clay was used to create bowls, dishes, tools, and all kinds of living essentials in ancient cultures.  Clay was also used in art to create clay sculptures and other pieces.

When clay dries, it becomes near impermeable to water, and because of this it was often used in bricks to create structures such as houses.  We still use clay in modern times to create barriers in dams or landfills to prevent toxic substances from seeping into the ground.

Let’s face it, whether it’s a mother, father, significant other, or just a close relative or friend, it’s no fun giving someone special a gift they could purchase themselves.  It’s important to have a personal gift for all those special people in life, and when it comes to personal gifts, it’s best to think creative.  Art makes a wonderful gift for a special person.  In addition, personalized art makes it a one of a kind piece.

Here are some options to consider:

~Portrait~ You can find custom portrait artists or painters in most larger cities, and these people can compose a unique piece of art from a picture or from a session with the subject.  Having a self portrait is a time honored tradition that traces back to a time before photography. 

~Custom Sculpture~ Clay sculptures are unique pieces of art that will be remembered for generations to come.  Portrait clay sculptor professionals are also common in most cities, or take a look around online.

~Ceramics~  While not quite as personal as a portrait or portrait sculptor, an original ceramic creation can be just as personal and enjoyable.

In the 18th and 19th century, it was common to have yourself immortalized by a portrait painter, and hailing back several millennia before that, the most important figures in history were immortalized in stone sculptures.  It’s important to have a lasting memory of preserved in time, and portraits and portrait sculptures are an excellent method to accomplish this.  Painters can capture all the unique details of color in your face, and create a portrait of how you would like to be remembered.  Portrait sculptors create a three dimensional model that makes a great centerpiece for a room.

It’s also common to be immortalized with your pets, or even have your favorite pets modeled as a portrait or sculpture.  Hundreds of years ago portrait painting and sculpting was reserved for the wealthy, but now, it’s affordable on almost any budget.  Just think about how you want to be remembered.

Reacting to color is an unconscious reaction for human beings.  Most people understand that blue is calming, but can also drive us to melancholy.  Pink is a happy color, and it has been scientifically proven that certain shades of pink can control agressive reactions. (Some correction facilities have instigated ‘the pink room’ - a room that they put unruley prisoners to calm down.)  Interior designers use color to manipulate specific outcomes.  Fast food restaurants are often decorated with garish colors so as to make patrons eat and leave - to not sit and occupy table space for  lengthy periods.  For me - color choses make my work come alive.  As an example - I was working on a wall mural for a family  - as seen above.  The piece had all the details the family had requested - in a plane, flying over the earth which exhibits all the places they have traveled to.  Somehow the mural was not working - until I realized that the color of the plane (originally white) did not pop and react with the rest of the colors.  After some contemplation, I took the bold move of changing the plane’s color to a shade of orange - the contrasting color of blue - and suddenly, the mural came to life!

When we wonder how figures like Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle looked, often our only references are portrait sculptures.  These figures shaped much of our modern society, but in truth, we know little about their personal lives.  The portrait sculptor who chronicled these historical figures is the only reference we have as to how they looked.  Even then, our interpretation of the physical characteristics of these fathers of history is only based on the interpretation of the artist.

Throughout history, sculptors, painters, and writers have chronicled the lives of historical figures.  While the historical figures often become the focus of study, it’s important to recognize the artists who helped to create their image.  Without those who recognized the works of historical figures as important, who knows whether we would still think of their work in the same manner today!

I’ve always thought that my Auntie Jan was a little bit odd.  Scattered around her house, she has a huge collection of animal sculptures.  From what my mom has told me, she’s never had pets, but her collection of dog sculptures probably weighs more than a Great Dane!  While I’ve always wondered where Auntie Jan’s fascination with sculptures came from, I’ve also recognized that my mom seems to share some of the same fascination (though to a much lesser extent). 

While I was in high school, I took a class on making ceramics and found that I wasn’t half bad at it.  In the first couple weeks, I made a sculpture of my dog, Ludo, and the teacher praised me for the detail of it.  After recognizing I had a particular passion for sculpture, I talked to Auntie Jan and she told me that all of her sculptures were made by a professional sculptor.  I didn’t even know there was such a thing, but professional sculptors are not all that uncommon.  I think I even dreamed of becoming one for a time!

While sculpture has always been made of various materials, including rare and expensive materials, sculptors have always sought to produce works of art that are permanent. Sculptures can be created by carving; others are assembled, built up and fired, welded, molded, or cast.

In the Pacific Northwest, wood was sculpted for totem poles, masks, utensils, War canoes and a variety of other uses, with distinct variations between different cultures and regions.  Totem poles are monumental sculptures carved from large Western Red Cedar trees.