Art by Hollis Richardson

POLYMER CLAY SCULPTURES AND STONE SCULPTURES IMAGINATIVELY PORTRAYING PEOPLE

Ancient Person 3 x 6 x 2 Alabaster Stone Sculpture
While Hollis Richardson’s body of artwork is primarily paintings and drawings, he also enjoys exploring three dimensional art, especially in a whimsical vain. The faces and figures seen in his polymer clay sculptures and stone sculptures reflect ethnic influences, often with a touch of whimsy. They spring from his imagination and do not represent a specific person, tribe or culture. Read more below the photos and contact him for further details on his three dimensional art. mclr71.cr@gmail.com
Stone Man 9 x 5 x 8 Soapstone Sculpture
Special Event 6 x 6 x 5.5 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Wealthy Native 24 x 4 x 4 Polymer Clay Sculpture
The Stone Sitter 12 x 6 x 7 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Egyptian Men 6 x 6 x 4 Soapstone Sculpture
Dressed 5 x 4.5 x 3 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Proud Of It 15 x 8 x 3 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Valor 10 x 6 x 8 Soapstone Sculpture
Early Man 8 x 5 x 5 Soapstone Sculpture
Proud Green Figure 14 x 6 x 6 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Cowgirl 14.5 x 4 x 4 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Braided 14 x 4 x 4 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Distinguished 12.5 x 3 x 3 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Showing All 14.5 x 4.5 x 4 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Inquiring 11 x 4 x 4 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Slim 15 x 3 x 3 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Draped 9 x 3.5 x 3.5 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Laced 11.5 x 4 x 4 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Hot 13 x 3 x 3 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Viewing 16 x 4.5 x 4.5 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Posing 6.5 x 4 x 4 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Wanderer 9 x 4.5 x 5 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Abundant 10.5 x 6 x 6 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Golden 4 x 3.5 x 3.5 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Red On Red 10 x 4.5 x 4 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Covering 13 x 4 x 4 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Thinker 7 x 4.5 x 3.5 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Proud 7.5 x 4 x 4.5 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Waiting 21.5 x 4 x 4 Soapstone Sculpture
Shy 4.5 x 3 x 4 Polymer Clay Sculpture
True Blue 10 5 x 3 x 3 Polymer Clay Sculpture
Royal 10 x 3.5 x 5 Polymer Clay Sculpture

About Hollis Richardson’s Polymer Clay and Stone Sculpture

Man has been creating sculpture since the beginning of time. The earliest found sculptures carved from bone date back 35,000 to 45,000 BCE and appears to have had religious and political purposes. Clay figures have been found in the area of Turkey dating back to 7,200 BCE. Over time the artwork became more sophisticated and the breadth of materials used increased. Hollis Richardson connects with that primal urge to create artwork from rough, unshapen materials. He enjoys the tactile experience of touching and feeling the texture of the materials and the labor involved in shaping something wonderful from a rock or lump of clay. Like Michelangelo, he finds hidden shapes in stone to release into sculpture. Working with stone sculpture is a substractive process and more technically difficult than modeling clay. It is unique, in that there is no way to correct an error. If too much material is removed, it cannot be replaced. Hollis works mostly with soapstone and alabaster, which is relatively softer and more available than some materials, using an electric drill and files to bring about a sculpture. It is a labor intensive process and one piece may take many days of long hours to complete. With polymer clay sculpture, the clay is directly molded into shape through an additive process and brings quicker results. He has been prolific in creating polymer clay sculptures. Whether working with clay or polymer clay, the excitement of sculpting for Hollis is in creating shapes, form and textures in several dimensions. The form itself is the ultimate design, but it can also be embellished. The elements of design, including use of texture have always been a primary consideration in his paintings. In sculpture, he can work more directly with the materials to achieve his goals. The finished product shares space with the artist and the viewer, who can turn it and walk around it to enjoy all sides of the project. His polymer clay and soapstone sculptures are heavily influenced by Native Americans, who he lived among during his time on the Navajo Reservation, and other indigenous people. The images of his sculptures, like those of his paintings spring from his imagination, influenced by memories and many experiences.

On Using Polymer Clay for Sculpture

Hollis uses Sculpey Clay, a plastic based material, which is readily available in art supply stores and online. It has the following properties:
Non toxicInexpensiveWaterproofWill not shrinkCan be molded to 1 inch thickness, and wrapped around foil and wire supports or armatures Is fired in a regular oven for up to 30 minutesCan be painted, preferably with acrylic paint Is long lasting
You can bake the project on a cookie sheet. The material will remain soft when first removed. DO NOT TOUCH it until fully cooled. Even heat is required, so DO NOT place it in the microwave for firing. It will become hardened when full cooled. Modeling clay is fun and can take any direction your imagintation will go in. It is an easy introduction to the world of making sculpture. Enjoy!
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