Maquettes for Sculpture and Pottery

I have been using maquettes, 3-D models, in my sculpture and pottery work for many years. A maquette is a great tool for exploring outcomes with efficient investment of energy and materials. When I was younger it was not as cumbersome to experiment on a large scale and sometimes fail and start again, but for some years now (I am 66), I have wanted to work smarter and ensure that when I embark on a large piece, whether functional or sculptural, there is a good chance for success.

My recent architectural sculptures are particularly suited to experimentation on a small scale before large scale construction commences. ‘Sketching’ quickly (and three-dimensionally) and working always with solid clay for my architectural maquettes, leaves me unfettered by the usual constraints of working with structurally weak walls of wet clay.

With several maquettes roughly sketched out, I choose the most appealing of the group and decide what techniques I will use in