For the past few months I’ve been working on a 31” tall clay model of Theodore Roosevelt in the Dakota Territory. I don’t get many opportunities to sculpt maquettes for large projects mainly because of tight deadlines. With no given timeline on a life size version there was time to create a detailed maquette.
The maquette was designed from an old photo from the 1880s. From around the time he first visited the Dakota Territory to experience the American West. The experiences he had in what is now North Dakota shaped him into the man we know of as our 26th President. For more information about Teddy in the American West, click here.
Although the primary inspiration for the clay work was the photo of Teddy, there were some things that I changed. It was important to incorporate the feel of the future Presidents’ larger than life personality and confidence. Putting his foot on a rock, adding a few more years and squinting his eyes were a few of these minor changes.
The project, if it happens, will be my first monument to a President. More details at a later date…stay tuned.
