Beth Thompson Visual Arts

Creator of realistic ceramic sculpture of animals. Artist Statement Sculpting in clay me to create something inanimate that feels like it is endowed with life and spirit. I can capture a moment in time, a snapshot that suspends that life force, presenting it in 3D with line, weight, and form while articulating its body with a gesture to express the feeling in that moment. I sculpt animals due to the way they connect with my audience. In an instant they can draw viewers in for a closer look. With just a glance, the sculptures expression can bring an audible reaction. Animals can instantly connect to the core of an emotion or memory. Using an approachable subject, allows me to attempt to explore human inner states of being, both dark and light, fragility and strength, belonging and exclusion. I am inspired by the truth of their interactions with us, their sence of humor, use of play, and sence of kinship. Some say they’re just animals, without feelings, here for our exploitation. I see a soul, a spirit, a personality, living with a blend of interconnectedness with us and biological programming. My work is evolving to capture the small intricacies of expression, what we see when we look into the eyes, creating tension in the body, while pushing to add more gesture and movement into the work. Capturing the correct anatomy, musculature and believable kinesthetic attributes is important to me, while also conveying the inner feeling state I am attempting to make the viewer sink into, for just a moment.