Neil Grant

Correctly rendered gestures, facial expressions and forms are a universal language that can be understood by all, and in mastering the techniques to produce them, my work becomes accessible to its audience. I work in clay because of the subtlety of expression that can be conveyed by a slight volume added to an eye or lip: a small upward curve of the lower eyelid transforms a forced smile into one of genuine joy. We are all experts in reading faces and gestures, and the ability to produce these in my art allows the viewer to connect with my work. My art makes social commentary, often using humor, or alternatively invites the viewer to contemplate the piece’s story by observing the subtleties of its realistically rendered physical form. In creating these pieces I’m influenced by protest artists such as Banksy, and master sculptors such as and Philippe Faraut, Bruno Luchessi and Beth Cavener Stichter. Every day, I use the art of deliberate practice to challenge both my technical skills and the boundaries of my creativity. By pushing myself in this structured way, my work becomes artistically enriched and the piece becomes more engaging for the viewer.