The beginning of an idea is my first step in producing a new sculpture.The following step is a must and that is enthusiasm. Without enthusiasm it is a no go.

Next I research the subject I am going to sculpt. Photographs of a live subject taken from all angles but from an equal distance are necessary , or I research my subject on the internet and download as many photographs of the same subject from different locations as I can . I must scale my subject carefully as this will make it easier for me to quickly form a likeness of it and therefore save loads of time.

I measure across the head, depth of the head, body length, body width, length of tail, size of eyes, and angle of eyes, etc. I digest all this information over a reasonable length of time as the more I see my subject in my mind's eye, the better and easier it will be for me to create it. I "chew the fat" over the subject for a few weeks before going ahead with my sculpture. This makes the task easier and more enjoyable when I do not have to constantly refer to photographs.