British Lop Pig: Liskeard Sunshine 500 and Piglets (British Champion Animals Collection)

The following week I arrived at the farm in the early morning, with a modelling stand and wax. I had always intended to include a few smaller sculptures of my British Champion Animals subjects, in more relaxed mood, and this would be an ideal subject. Julian was away all day, so I let myself into the yard, as arranged. Sunshine and her litter were in the barn, as promised – all of them dozing contentedly. Quietly I set up my modelling stand and began work. Since this was to be a more relaxed study, I worked quickly, trying to capture the mood, before they woke. The work went well, and by early afternoon Sunshine and her litter were recognisable. I took a break from sculpting and grabbed my chance to take a few photographs, to supplement my memory once I got back to the studio.

By now it was mid-afternoon. I had left home early, without breakfast, so I was getting rather hungry. I had brought lunch; Sunshine and her litter seemed to be sleeping soundly; so I crept over to my car and unwrapped a sandwich. Big mistake! Seconds later I was surrounded by six hungry piglets. So that was the end of sculpting for that day. I took a few shots of snouts, tails, feet, etc, as Sunshine’s little pigs scurried around the yard; said my farewells and drove home to continue work on Sunshine & Piglets in my studio the following day.

I spent two more days refining the composition and adding detail, before delivering the finished wax to the foundry.

I chose a subtle, warm, honey coloured patina, that reminded me of how Sunshine and her piglets had looked in the early morning sunshine, as I arrived to sculpt them. I think it works beautifully.