Misha's story

Late in 2001 I decided that I wanted to carve a female nude. Having never studied female anatomy, I was not sure where to begin. As luck would have it, I met a lady sculptor who does beautiful life-sized bronzes. Not only does Mischelle do beautiful bronzes, she has taught anatomy for artists. Mischelle agreed to be my assistant on this project, in its early stages.

I contacted the University of New Mexico Art Department, and asked if they knew of a model that would not mind having plaster smeared all over her body. I waited, and waited, and waited - no call from the university.

I had made arrangements for Mischelle to come out to New Mexico, from Nevada. The day is drawing closer, and still no call from the University. Three days before Mischelle is due to arrive, I get a phone call. It is 'MISHA'. She tells me that she is 26 years old, and the mother of a daughter. She indicates that since having had her daughter, she had added a couple of pounds. I am not sure what this means, so I ask Misha if she could come out and let me meet her (to see exactly how many pounds have been added). She agrees, but had to cancel twice. Well, on the day Mischelle arrives, I get my first look at Misha. A little red car pulls up in my driveway, and the cuteist little pixie head is looking out of the window. I say to myself, "If the rest of the body is anywhere near as cute as the head, this will work."

Misha gets out of the car, and I think that I have died and gone to heaven. She is adorable. After I make introductions - Misha, Mischelle and my wife - off we go to my studio.

Mischelle and I explain to Misha that we will be making a Plaster-of-Paris casting of her entire body - in sections. She agrees, and off we go. She disrobes, and if there was an ounce of fat on this woman, it was nowhere to be seen.

To make a long story short - we make a complete Plaster-of-Paris mold of Misha. Through a multi-step process, we create a clay model from the Plaster-of-Paris mold - a latex mold from the clay model - and finally, a Plaster-of-Paris model from the mold.

It then took me eighteen months to translate the Plaster-of-Paris model into the marble sculpture.

MISHA was first shown at the 'Sculpture In The Park' exhibition in Loveland, Colorado - 2003 - to great aclaim. For three years, she was not made availavle for purchase. January 1, 2007 Misha became available for purchase.