Artist’s Statement – David Williams-Ellis I have worked as a sculptor for more than forty years, beginning my career primarily as a portrait sculptor, and going on to create a broad range of both large and small-scale figurative sculpture. Having spent several years in Italy being classically trained and learning traditional wood and marble carving, I have previously drawn inspiration from Renaissance sculpture, as well as Rodin and Bourdelle, but the human form and movement are what fundamentally interest me. I work principally in clay and typically cast in bronze. The communication of movement and energy is integral to my work, and I prefer to sculpt from life using either the subject themselves, if it’s a portrait, or models to create a figurative rendering that translates palpable vitality and dynamism. With all my work, but in portraits especially, understanding the subject is very much a part of the creation of the piece. I would describe my approach as an exploration of both form and character, and I find that an understanding of the sitter – or object’s - identity is essential in giving “life” to a sculpture. For me, sculpting in clay is an instinctive and naturally evolving process. My hands are an extension of my brain and are translating an almost subconscious reaction to what I’m seeing. To allow for the spontaneity of my creative process, and to maintain the skill of my craft, I find that it is vital to practice consistent discipline in studying form through both two-dimensional drawing and three-dimensional “sketching” in clay, both of which I use as tools to gain a preliminary understanding of my subject at the start of a new piece. I usually cast my sculptures in bronze, mostly because it is such a durable and workable material, but also because I have found that the way in which light reflects off the surface really lends itself to my particular style of sculpture. I have also cast in glass and silver, both of which also have extraordinary reflective and refractive qualities, and I am currently experimenting with aluminium casting. I find it really exciting to see how each material can translate my sculpture in such vastly different ways, and I hope to continue to experiment with new mediums as my practice evolves.