Carl Newman
Carl Newman is a wildlife sculptor based near Felixstowe, on the Suffolk coast. He studied at Ipswich Art School in the late 1980s before setting out on his own as a sculptor, first making work for gift shops and then, from 1994, developing his practice through gallery representation.
Living on a peninsula puts a range of habitats close at hand, and the estuaries, with the birds and mammals that pass through them over the seasons, are a constant source of subjects. Each sculpture begins in the field: he sketches, photographs and watches a species, often for hours, to understand it before any modelling starts.
A highlight of his career was a 2012 commission for the International Bird of Prey Centre in Newent, Gloucestershire: a bronze peregrine falcon, which he presented to HRH The Princess Royal in recognition of her support as the centre's patron. His work is held in private collections around the world.
Artist Statement
From an early age I have been intrigued and inspired by the natural world, drawing, studying and admiring its beauty.
Combining different materials and learning how they behaved with each other were all part of one long experiment that is ever changing to this day.
I try to honour the beauty and movement of each animal, celebrating them in their individuality. The process of sculpting initially in clay, either water-based or oil-based, is known as the 'master'. The piece is scrutinised and adjusted to convey the pose and anatomy of the chosen animal; accurately crafting the overall shape and stance plays a vital part in conveying the animal's size, movements, and character, so that the final piece portrays an honest and balanced likeness.
