Tracy H Sugg

Have sketchbook, Will travel.... and travel we did, all the way to the Kimbell Art Museum in Ft Worth, TX. It is rare that I visit any musuem exhibit without sketch book in hand, I have sketches from every visit to the Met in New York City, the Cloisters, and the nearby Frist in Nashville - as well as from the Uffizi, Vatican and Louvre and many other museums. (In fact, my children now also bring their own sketchbooks to art museums.) Parks, fountains, and architecture ar

With cooler weather I enjoy curling up with a cup of something hot to drink and reading. My favorite books being those on sculpture, I thought that posting book reviews would be fun and enjoyable for those of you who are fellow bibliophiles (especially for anything written on the arts in general and sculpture in particular). Whenever I go to a library or used book store, my first place to look is in the art section where ‘sculpture’ will be. Most of the time, there are not ma

Detail photo St Francis and his 'little sister' by Tracy H Sugg I’ve always been fond of St Francis, as it seems most people are. One of the things I love about him is his championing the arts; for God is Beauty, therefore, art that is beautiful should be created. However, his popularity in gardens and with wildlife is universally iconic. So I was excited when I received this commission for a bronze sculpture of St Francis. In researching his life, I came across his sermon

Back in 2009, I went into a used book shop (bibliophilia being one of my vices!) and found a jewel. The first section I always scout out being the art section, which is usually cluttered with tomes on painting (that to my painter friends :)) I found a book, written in 1925 by a Sculptor, F. W. Ruckstull "Great Works of Art and What Makes Them Great". An extremely deep read, and very well worth the reading if you find a copy! Though Ruckstull was a sculptor, his book applie

The changing of the seasons always brings inspiration to an artist. The fragrance, color, texture of each season brings with it, it's own language of beauty. Commission work aside, I find the seasons reflected in the subject matter and composition of the sculptures I am currently working on for gallery work, exhibits or (for the rare opportunities when I have the time) sculptures for myself. However, there are also seasons during our lives that provide inspiration as well,

Being able to do your artwork well with both hands is a valuable trait. I think more so for sculptors. When you are right handed then sculpting the left side of the face is easy, but the nose gets in the way when your working on that right eye. Solution: train yourself to use both hands equally well. Though both hands are used in blocking out the figure, or a portrait, artists tend to gravitate to the stronger and more skilled hand to work on the details and refining faci

Last week I was told that my oldest son described my approach to my work as "the depth of an artist's vision is so far beyond what the layman sees." As my friend related this to me, I realized that my 'Pursuit of the Artist's Arcanum" (to use my book title) was so much a part of what I do that even my children had soaked it up. As artists, we do see things more in depth. It's not just a pretty sunset, it's a whole world of hues, depth, color and air. How many times while d

When the Pope approached Michelangelo and asked (told) him to paint the ceiling of the Sistine chapel, Michelangelo's response was "I'm a sculptor, not a painter" However, we now not only have the gorgeous ceiling, but he was afterwards compelled to paint the wall behind the altar as well. Many artists throughout history were proficient in more than one area of the arts, though, most times they are only known for their expertise in one medium. Gianlorenzo Bernini (one of my f

Before I started 'blogging' per se, I read a lot of artist's blogs, and subscribed to some. However, it seems that 99% of them are painters. So while a lot is applicable to me as a sculptor, some of it is not. So, I am enjoying writing something that - while it can speak to all artists - does have posts that relate to sculptors and potters, and this is just such a post---- One of the aspects I love about working in clay is that I am able to touch all the elements: earth, fir

Every artist has a studio, even it’s a corner of a room that has your supplies and a small working space. I think the fact is that artists have to create, and will find a way and a space to do so. There have been times I have moved into our living room or dining room, shoving furniture into other parts of the house so I could have the extra space I needed when working on multiple projects. For the artist, living space comes second to studio space. Space to work That being sai