Artist Sculpts Realistic Livestock Replicas

2022 - Volume #46, Issue #1, Page #21

[ Sample Stories From This Issue | List of All Stories In This Issue | Print this story | Read this issue]

Carol Herden has transformed a passion for livestock into a thriving sculpture business. Having grown up on a working ranch in Montana, Herden has intimate knowledge of different cattle breeds and a passion for crafting them from clay, bronze, and other mediums.
    “As a kid, I collected the Breyer model horses. My mom said she could not afford my habit, so I needed to figure out how to make them myself,” Herden says.
    “I was always drawing and creating things, so she bought me clay when I was around eight years old. I’ve been sculpting from that point on.”
    Today, Herden’s artistic services include livestock trophy awards, custom sculpture or 3D color portraits, large or life-sized sculptures, metal fabrication and laser engraving.
    Each sculpture is an original piece of art. Using photos submitted by the buyer, Herden sculpts the animal’s likeness out of clay. “I start with a wire frame, add clay until I get the size and shape desired, and then start fine-tuning,” she shares. This process takes hours, and the buyer’s input is always welcome.
    “Once I get the sculpture to an almost finished state, I then involve the people by sending them photos. I can’t know everything about every breed, so I rely on people to direct me so that I capture the essence of their breed correctly.”
    After the sculpture is finalized, Herden uses it to make a mold into which liquid resin is cast. Once the material has hardened, the casting of the figure is removed from the mold and cleaned and prepped for painting. Each sculpture is then hand-painted to match the animal’s likeness.
    Alternatively, customers can purchase breed color 3D portraits, also known as off-the-shelf sculptures. With these, Herden paints a pre-made sculpture to match your animal’s likeness based on pictures you share. Before casting, it’s possible to modify minor details of the model to improve the resemblance, such as adding horns or notching ears. This streamlined process makes each sculpture more cost-effective, making the 3D portraits her most popular option for general collectors.
    Prices vary for Herden’s art, but they start around $75 for the 3D portraits and $1,800 for original sculptures. “My biggest market right now is Livestock Awards,” she says. “The advertising is mostly word of mouth through the shows or people that I have done work for.”
    Besides her website, you can find Herden’s artwork at her storefront, Chasing Fauna, in Amboy, Minn.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Carol’s Original Works, 51447 124th Street, Amboy, Minn. 56010 (507-380-1330; www.carolsoriginalworks.com).

Click here to download page story appeared in.

Click here to read entire issue

Artist Sculpts Realistic Livestock Replicas FARM HOME Miscellaneous Carol Herden has transformed a passion for livestock into a thriving sculpture business Having grown up on a working ranch in Montana Herden has intimate knowledge of different cattle breeds and a passion for crafting them from clay bronze and other mediums “As a kid I collected the Breyer model horses My mom said she could not afford my habit so I needed to figure out how to make them myself ” Herden says “I was always drawing and creating things so she bought me clay when I was around eight years old I’ve been sculpting from that point on ” Today Herden’s artistic services include livestock trophy awards custom sculpture or 3D color portraits large or life-sized sculptures metal fabrication and laser engraving Each sculpture is an original piece of art Using photos submitted by the buyer Herden sculpts the animal’s likeness out of clay “I start with a wire frame add clay until I get the size and shape desired and then start fine-tuning ” she shares This process takes hours and the buyer’s input is always welcome “Once I get the sculpture to an almost finished state I then involve the people by sending them photos I can’t know everything about every breed so I rely on people to direct me so that I capture the essence of their breed correctly ” After the sculpture is finalized Herden uses it to make a mold into which liquid resin is cast Once the material has hardened the casting of the figure is removed from the mold and cleaned and prepped for painting Each sculpture is then hand-painted to match the animal’s likeness Alternatively customers can purchase breed color 3D portraits also known as off-the-shelf sculptures With these Herden paints a pre-made sculpture to match your animal’s likeness based on pictures you share Before casting it’s possible to modify minor details of the model to improve the resemblance such as adding horns or notching ears This streamlined process makes each sculpture more cost-effective making the 3D portraits her most popular option for general collectors Prices vary for Herden’s art but they start around $75 for the 3D portraits and $1 800 for original sculptures “My biggest market right now is Livestock Awards ” she says “The advertising is mostly word of mouth through the shows or people that I have done work for ” Besides her website you can find Herden’s artwork at her storefront Chasing Fauna in Amboy Minn Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Carol’s Original Works 51447 124th Street Amboy Minn 56010 507-380-1330; www carolsoriginalworks com

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.

SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW NOW