Rachel Ducker
Biography

'I have to make things. I have an incredibly visual active mind. This gives me a necessity to create. Home, children, art, myself! Well practised in life drawing with an appreciation of the human body and the emotional dynamics of human nature, combined with being originally trained as a jeweller, led me to experiment with wire as a medium for sculpting the human form, capturing something ephemeral, either emotive or active. My pieces are untitled due to my belief that everyone sees something different in my sculptures, and my lack of suggestion leaves them to live the moment I portray in their own particular way, therefore expanding my piece of work with every viewer. The translucency and form of my work allows rather dramatic shadows to be cast with the right lighting and depending on the angle can show the three dimensional form on a two dimensional level creating an effect resembling a pencil sketch on the wall.

I use no model and I don’t form the shape around anything. I form each limb and piece by hand and then assemble it in the posture I have decided on. For the smaller pieces, I make the whole body first, then pose, using the hair as added emphasis of movement. My satisfaction with the posture can be instantaneous or take days and is important right to the tip of the finger. My sculptures being featureless leaves the posture to say all and the hands are the main vehicle for expressing this feeling. I have discovered that the slightest movement in the angle of the hand or fingers changes everything that the figure is thinking or portraying. Then the hair creates the scene, making all more turbulent, adding movement and tenacity.

My inspiration comes from the human form but I am also greatly inspired by the different materials I find, this often leading to new ideas.

The wire work keeps me more than busy but I like to try to keep my active mind diverse in its creativity. I still make jewellery to commission and enjoy experimenting with painting, drawing and photography, as well as constantly moving on with the sculpture, it being the fundamental side of my work. I am keen to combine mediums and would like to work more on the larger pieces, time and space allowing.'

Rachel Ducker

Biography

'I have to make things. I have an incredibly visual active mind. This gives me a necessity to create. Home, children, art, myself! Well practised in life drawing with an appreciation of the human body and the emotional dynamics of human nature, combined with being originally trained as a jeweller, led me to experiment with wire as a medium for sculpting the human form, capturing something ephemeral, either emotive or active. My pieces are untitled due to my belief that everyone sees something different in my sculptures, and my lack of suggestion leaves them to live the moment I portray in their own particular way, therefore expanding my piece of work with every viewer. The translucency and form of my work allows rather dramatic shadows to be cast with the right lighting and depending on the angle can show the three dimensional form on a two dimensional level creating an effect resembling a pencil sketch on the wall.

I use no model and I don’t form the shape around anything. I form each limb and piece by hand and then assemble it in the posture I have decided on. For the smaller pieces, I make the whole body first, then pose, using the hair as added emphasis of movement. My satisfaction with the posture can be instantaneous or take days and is important right to the tip of the finger. My sculptures being featureless leaves the posture to say all and the hands are the main vehicle for expressing this feeling. I have discovered that the slightest movement in the angle of the hand or fingers changes everything that the figure is thinking or portraying. Then the hair creates the scene, making all more turbulent, adding movement and tenacity.

My inspiration comes from the human form but I am also greatly inspired by the different materials I find, this often leading to new ideas.

The wire work keeps me more than busy but I like to try to keep my active mind diverse in its creativity. I still make jewellery to commission and enjoy experimenting with painting, drawing and photography, as well as constantly moving on with the sculpture, it being the fundamental side of my work. I am keen to combine mediums and would like to work more on the larger pieces, time and space allowing.'

Rachel Ducker