What does a Sculptor do?

If you want to begin to learn to carve, think of something you want to make, e.g., a tree frog, then cast a small block of candle wax--a little too big to hold in one hand, (candle wax smells good too), (melt at low heat and pour it carefully, filling a smaller size cream carton.) then use a not so sharp pen-knife or small pocket knife to carve the wax.

I made several small carvings this way before moving on to bass wood, and then on to hardwoods. Carving in jeweler's wax is also very challenging, and can be cast by the lost-wax process. Now I carve Japanese-style netsuke, and they sell very well.

I can't think of anything I enjoy doing as much, and sometimes I don't even stop to eat, and carve the entire day. Patience isn't even a consideration, because there is no such thing as time.

Sculptors have to be patient in order to do what they do. I lost my patience halfway through my first sculpting class project and quit the class, so I know how hard it must be.

I admire famous sculptors who have stuck with it long enough to make a name for themselves. This is one career where persistence pays off in a big way, both in the craft and in the making of your career.

A sculptor needs a gallery exhibit to help them get started. The fine arts degree program at my university would help students get their work displayed in a gallery when they were about to graduate.

The university had its own art gallery, so getting students set up there was no problem. The school newspaper would feature an article on the student, along with photos of their sculptures.

From there, it wasn't too hard to get an exhibit at the gallery in the city. Having a lot to show for yourself really helps get your foot in the door.

@giddion – That was probably a good glimpse into the life of a sculptor. They often have to work in hot environments, and sometimes, they have to work outdoors.

If they are working on something that is too big to be transported once it's done, they probably have to sculpt it on site. That would mean dealing with unpleasant temperatures sometimes.

@ceilingcat – I know what you mean. I took a sculpting class during summer session, and it was intense! I spent four hours a day down in the basement of the art building where they kept the tools and equipment we needed.

We did everything from making sculptures out of a form of cow dung used in Africa to making molds and pouring hot metal into them. I did enjoy carving the molds, but it was hard work.

I was usually sore after class. Also, it was hot down there, because all we had was a fan!

@betterment - While working as a freelance figurative sculptor might not pay well for some, if an artist is getting commissioned for public sculpture, they're probably getting paid fairly well.

Usually if an artist gets a job like that, they're fairly well established and have been around for awhile. So they probably did pay their dues at one point. But artists taking jobs like that aren't "starving artists," that's for sure!

Sculpture is one of my favorite kinds of public art. I think it's so much more accessible than a lot of other art forms! I know sometimes being an artist doesn't pay well, so I'm glad there are still some people out there who are willing to do it!

@ceilingcat - I took three-dimensional design when I was in college also. My teacher was actually an abstract sculptor, and as the article said, he taught to supplement his income, because work as an artist can be fairly sporadic.

In my class, I didn't work with metal or anything like that. Instead, I made most of my pieces out of foam board. It sounds weird, but foam board is sturdy, easy to cut, and you can paint it or cover it with paper to make it look like another surface. It's also fairly cheap, which is great for a college student.

I took three-dimensional design when I was in college, because I was getting a degree in art, and it was a requirement. I have to say, sculpting is fairly difficult. I found it enjoyable, but it was definitely one of my most time consuming classes!