Barney is an intense observer and articulate interpreter of the figure. During class he is either sculpting from the model with us or watching the evolution of our work. At an auspicious moment Barney might jump up with a revealing insight or sage warning, making his points with vivid references to things mechanical and organic. He has a "working with" discovery method, sort of like a lead climber or better yet an expert belay. I can try something unprecedented confident in the knowledge that Barney's on the rope ready to catch me should I slip off the overhang. Once in awhile we'll all stand on a ledge and catch the breathtaking view together.

I started sculpting so that I could wrap my perception around the volumes. Working life size creates an intimate connection - what I see is the same size as what I shape.

Although I am still interested in casting, I have become more involved in the sculpting process and less focused on the product. This does not have much to do with loosing my first life size double figure a week before it was finished. The disappointment of seeing 700 lbs of clay slam into the floor was almost completely offset by the exhilaration I felt from not getting crushed by it. My escape was due in no small part to the fluid movements I'm practicing. Funny coincidence - Barney's another martial artist.