After painting portraits for about 15 years, I took a sculpting class thinking that it would improve my knowledge of anatomy. Little did I know that I would be hooked! Working in clay became my new love. I found I had an natural talent for it (of course studying faces and personalities for so long didn’t hurt ). After only a couple months of classes, I showed Father Weber, my Priest at St. John’s in Terrell, a maquette of a sculpture idea I had for our church. He was really pleased with it and immediately asked his Vencentian Brothers to pay for the casting of a life size version. This was to become my first bronze sculpture. “Christ the Living Water” depicts Christ with his hands held out and plumbed so that water flows from one hand to the other. It was submitted to the Ministry and Liturgy Magazine art competition where it won a BENE award and was chosen for the cover of their March 2004 edition of the magazine. Shortly thereafter, I received a commission by The Friends of the Riter Hulsey Library in Terrell, Texas to create a bust of Mr. Hulsey. Mr. Hulsey sat for photographs and the final touches. When the plasticine bust was unveiled for “The Friends” approval, the remarks included things like “he looks like he’s about to tell us a story or a joke!” and that “he appeared he was breathing!”. Mr. Hulsey is the President of American National Bank, which is also commissioning editions of the bust for many of their bank’s branches.
Since then, I have created numerous portraits and liturgical pieces including, “Mr. Buis”, a life size 6 foot tall portrait of a CEO which was placed at Preston Park Village Mall in Plano, Texas. This was created as a surprise for Mr. Buis, which meant I was required to sculpt it based on their photos and videos. I did not meet him until he stood beside the sculpture during the unveiling at the mall. Fortunately, he and all his friends, family and co-workers were thrilled with the likeness and were most complimentary! His wife, and coworkers were wonderful to work with and gave me lots of insight into his personality, which was very important in developing his likeness. A portrait sculpture must be so much more than just a 3-d copy of a person’s likeness.
In 2007, I was commissioned to create a portrait of St. Ignatius for Montserrat Retreat House in Lake Dallas. The likeness was taken from paintings of him, including a painting of his death mask. This sculpture was 5 feet tall (apparently, St. Ignatius was not a big man). I was also commissioned to cast an edition of this for Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington DC which was installed November 2008. Two more editions of him have already been spoken for. There will only be 8 made. A photograph of St. Ignatius shown in progress is being used as prayer cards at Holy Trinity, and I have recently given permission for the same photo to be used for a Prayer for Vocations Card for the Maryland Provence and New York Society of Jesus. At Montserrat, I was later commissioned to create a 3 foot diameter medallion with the “Lady Mary and Christ Child” which now hangs on an exterior wall at the Retreat.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marshall, Texas commissioned me to create a series of large reliefs cast in resin for an Adoration Chapel Altar, which included a triumphant Christ, Angels, and Mary with the Christ Child. These turned out so lovely that they then commissioned me to create a three foot tall bronze of “The Blessed Mother with Child”. This sculpture portrays a very pregnant Mary and was placed as a memorial to the unborn. Fr. Vithanage also purchased a large oil painting of mine titled “The Transfiguration”.
In December 2008, I installed a series of 4 life size children for a family in Addison, Texas. These are all portrayed at 4 years old and have been a delight to sculpt. Recently their last two grandchildren turned 4 and I sculpted them bringing this family’s total sculptures to 6. These sculptures portray the children with their favorite toys. One child holds a butterfly net and butterflies lightly land on each child.
I recently completed a commission of small portrait reliefs of Bishop Grahmann and Bishop Farrell for Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas.
Almost all of my larger commissions have resulted in a second, and sometimes a third, commission for the same client. I work well with committees, becoming great friends in the process.
Several of my Terra Cotta portrait busts reside in private homes around Texas and New Mexico. I thoroughly enjoy creating portraits and liturgical art. Getting to know people, their personalities, nuances, and the little things that make each person an individual is such a thrill for me, especially when I get to recreate this in clay! I have currently been inspired to create terra cotta character studies for many of the people involved in Christ’s crucifixion. These would make wonderful stations of the cross for a creative congregation.
It’s been amazing how my career as a sculptor has developed. It all began when I drew portraits of my own children 20 years ago. When my neighbors saw these, to my surprise and delight, they requested portraits of their children. After working in graphite for 7 years, I felt the need to challenge myself. I tried watercolor and was accepted into the Monticello Gallery in Dallas right away. A few years later, I tried oil paints and have a long list of happy clients. I studied everything I could to improve my natural talent, including attending several national conferences of the Portrait Society of America. In fact, my portraits have been featured in the PSA National Newsletter twice. Sculpting is certainly my favorite medium and seems to be one in which I truly excel. I am a Board Member of the Texas Sculpture Association , a Board Member of the Terrell Alliance for Education and the Arts, and Founding Member and Executive Board Member of the NorthEast Texas Fine Art Alliance. I have shown my work at various venues around the DFW area, as well as at conferences around the country.
I worked with a committee which hosted a Sculpture Symposium at the Nasher Sculpture Museum in September. I have taught art at a local private high school and other private lessons. The Terrell Tribune has written several articles about me and I’ve even been featured in The Texas Catholic Newspaper. I am married to a wonderful man, have three great children and live on a farm in Poetry, Texas (near Terrell). I have a large studio which is 25 steps from my back door and which will accommodate monumental sculptures!
I sincerely enjoy the challenge each commission brings, as each has unique qualities that always keep it interesting.
Thank you so much for your time, Shelley Kolman Smith
