British Art: Contemporary Sculptures by Stuart Anderson
Sculptor Stuart Anderson was born in Rochester, Kent and always wanted to be a sculptor. He initially learnt about bronze casting in his teens, whilst still at school, by casting sculptures in lead melted down in a saucepan on his mother's stove. He built his first bronze-casting furnace in his parents back garden in 1991 - a skill taught to him by Tissa Ranasinghe the Master Founder at the Royal College of Art Kensington.
Stuart Anderson studied Sculpture at Winchester School of Art and Bronze Casting obtaining a BA (Hons) in Sculpture. He then undertook a post graduate in Bronze Casting/Sculpture at the Royal College of Art
Stuart Anderson is known for his bronze sculptures of animals and the human figure. He usually models in clay or wax with the subject in front of him, and casts the sculptures in bronze himself using the 'lost wax' method. Anderson's sculptures strike just the right balance between selective detail and grace and elegance of form.
Stuart Anderson displays exceptional talent as a sculptor of animals, whether the sculptures are on a small scale or life-size. He captures accurately their physical appearance as well as their character and vitality. The natural and easy appearance of the animals, and their unforced poses, are testament to the sculptor's affinity with his subject and his care and understanding. There is always a feeling of acceptance and calm, and you sense a delicate balance between the beauty of the animal and its discipline, alertness and contained energy. Comparison of his sculptures of horses, greyhounds and whippets reveal not only his ability to express the distinctive character of each animal, but even the personality of the particular animal he modeled.
Stuart Anderson casts his own sculptures as he feels it is an integral part of the creative process. Speaking about his sculptures Anderson says: 'I work from life where possible, with the model, animal or human in front of me, preferring natural, unforced and sometimes quickly observed poses, which always say more about the model (character and physical nature). I try to convey the vitality of the living body, to explore and learn about the anatomy and to make strong sculptural forms.'
