Luke Shepherd

Most important to me is intense observation. In Zen-like fashion, if the viewer can get out of the way the truth of what is seen can be revealed. The portrait bust is one of the most intensely challenging tasks for any artist. Imagine the most physical, visual and mathematically challenging puzzle you can – then double it. I find the making of a portrait sculpture is all of this. I strive to deconstruct the form of the sitter before putting it back together, in a fashion that intensifies their presence. This involves understanding what elements make the presence of the sitter unique, removing what is not necessary and changing what is crucial, before reassembly. In this way the viewer not only gains a vivid representation of the sitter, but is transported through a doorway into the world of the sculptor’s construction and creative processes.