MICHAEL SIMPSON Sculpture
Michael Simpson studied fine art at Staffordshire Polytechnic, not far from where he grew up and developed his original passion for sculpture. Both the pottery, and in particular the design traditions of his home town Stoke-on-Trent, inspired this love for making and learning the craft of sculpture and the foundry techniques he now employs. Other famous towns of the region have created some of the world’s finest works and respect for the craft of the sculptor and designer is well deserved in the region.
There are few modellers who can produce accurate and detailed studies covering such diverse subjects as dogs, cats, African wildlife and the female form. Michael is one of the few who can achieve this goal working from his own drawings, photographs and observation. Like so many artists and sculptors, his studio walls are covered in the reference material and notes from which he draws his inspiration.
Wax is usually used as the preferred medium for sculpting by artists because of its versatility, but Michael is unusual in that he prefers to model directly in clay, as he likes the freedom and spontaneity this material has to offer and is content to work around its limitations. Working in this manner quickly and directly allows him to create works that have the life and spirit he aims for.
