HHS Fine Arts Students Learn from Master Sculptor Bill Merklein

The Harrison High School Fine Arts students in Studio Art, Drawing and Painting, and Ceramics were treated to a Master Class from renowned sculptor and painter Bill Merklein.

Mr. Merklein began with the proverbial lump of clay and transformed it into a recognizable life-sized sculpture of the human head – all the while explaining step by step the geometry and symmetry as well as the differences involved in obtaining the precise look for the eyes, nose, mouth, cheekbones, and ears.

“There is no waste in the learning process,” he told the students as he created. “A camera doesn’t make judgments – it records. The eye does not. How the human being sees is what the brain wants you to know. All art is expressive and your point of view.”

Mr. Merklein has been a sculptor and painter for over 50 years. During the 1980’s, he worked for the Hasbro toy company creating GI Joe action figures as well as some of the original Star Wars characters and other early figures.

“Points of interest in painting or sculpting can control what is important and why you the artist have chosen the subject.”

One of Mr. Merklein’s most famous sculptures resides in people’s wallets. He created the dove hologram that is on the back of the Visa credit card. This miniature sculpture was created at actual size. Holograms must be sculpted and photographed 180 degrees at actual size.

Mr. Merklein also took the time to critique and provide feeback for some of the works produced by the Harrison High School artists.

“You are not doing this for yourself alone – great art is a dialogue not a monologue. We feel art before we see it. We have art because words alone are not enough.”