KATHMAN
Yet this missing element is as important as anything else,
even as much as bone, muscle, planes, placement, and
proportion, capturing a rare degree of realism by lending
As sculptors of equine realism, we have to balance many life and instance to flesh itself. Without it, in fact, it is imfacets of the animal in order to recreate a convincing re- possible to convey the essence of living flesh altogether!
sult in clay. Being so, there are many variables at play, So if we want to keep our sculptures from appearing too
all existing in a sliding scale of accuracy. Yet at the basis mechanical, more like postured anatomy charts rather
are our anatomy charts, reference photos, field study, and than living, breathing beasts, this vital component is an
various tidbits from our mental library, all working togeth- equal imperative in our priority list.
er to get us as close as possible to achieving that coveted
goal of “realism.”
But what is it? What is this elusive substance that goes
so unaddressed so universally? What could possibly have
As such, bony landmarks, muscle configurations, veining that much power in our work, yet be so ignored? What
patterns, proportion, planes and angles consume our at- could be so critical that goes so missing?
tention to help ensure we hit our mark. Conformation,
breed type, gender characteristics also play their part. It is goo.
Gesture, expression, posture, and composition contribute their necessary qualities, too, as does technique, tool Yes—GOO. That mushy magical, that warm wonderful,
contours and smoothing methods. All these things add that glorious gooey, goopy stuff we can call GOO.
their unique and critical touch to our work, hopefully
recreating this splendid creature in as faithful a manner It is one of my very favorite things! Along with the ABCs
we can muster.
(anatomy, biomechanics and color accuracy), goo is
Yet there is one aspect of this animal that is so sublime
and mercurial that it rarely gets its fair due. And because
its qualities morph so quickly and quirky, they literally go
unseen by most. It is no surprise then why anatomy charts
lack it altogether, since as a matter of course, it is stripped
clean away to reveal the “more important” muscle masses
and bony orientations. For all these reasons, many sculptors end up overlooking it completely as well, focusing
almost entirely on everything but this one quintessential
aspect.
8
"
...goo entails all those
fleshy parts that wrinkle,
wiggle, jiggle, goosh,
smoosh, and moosh.
"
Equine Collectibles – Winter 2015