Artist demonstrates how clay comes to life
 A local artist visited Cindy Howell's 3D Art class on Oct. 21 to explain the process he took to create a bronze statue that has stood in front of the Gurnee Police Department building since 2004.
Ron Howell, who also teaches the ceramics class at LCHS, explained the multiple steps he took to create a life-sized piece in which a police officer is holding hands with two children. He used a slideshow with pictures of the various stages to show that his work began with research — having a police officer pose for pictures in full uniform so Howell could note how to portray a Gurnee officer most accurately. It took about eight months to create a detailed, full-scale clay sculpture, complete with a Gurnee Police Department badge on the arm and all of the belt accessories. This sculpture acted as a mold for the bronzing process. Overall, the 500-pound piece took about two years to complete.
Ron Howell also shared a portfolio of his artwork with the students. In addition to the the police officer, he has created smaller bronze statues of Abraham Lincoln and Einstein in various positions. |
