My first animal sculpture...
Everyone Loves Chocolate Everyone Loves Chocolate will appeal to guinea pig lovers. Previously I've worked briefly from a cat and a dove, but not had them cast in bronze. This new sculpture of mine is not typical of the animal sculpture genre and although a change of direction for me is still recognisable as one of my original bronze sculptures. It was inspired by our wonderful, fat, cheerful, pet guinea pig called Chocolate, who belongs to my younger son. Our two guinea pigs came from a pet refuge here in Norwich and they have become important to our family life. We adopted them five years ago and have promised not to let them reproduce. I had forgotten the point of family pets till these two came home with us. We are enjoying the pair of them so much I felt like im,ortalising them in a guinea pig sculpture! Each of my boys has their own pig and they live indoors in the playroom so they that get lots of attention. They listen for our comings and goings, emitting loud squeaks if they hear the rustle of a bag carrying grass or vegetables. Chocolate is the chubbiest and tamest of the two so he modelled for this animal sculpture.
In the sculpture he's roughly life-size and standing upright - which I have to admit he cannot do unaided. It then felt obvious to add the child, smaller than he is, giving him a hug. I feel as though he is playing the part of a friendly uncle. It is odd, I admit, but children - both mine and visitors - all love it, and it makes them laugh. Go back to the top of My First Animal Sculpture.
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Chocolate is male and is definitely an alpha pig with his large head and long solid body. He's is very forgiving, friendly and fun, and is happy to lie on his back in a super-relaxed way while we feed him his favourite herbs. Neighbours deliver treats like broccoli stork, dandelion leaves and cabbage hearts and leave them on the doorstep for the pigs.