Brook, Dorothy
I became a sculptor in a very roundabout way. I had studied Graphic Design at St Martins School of Art and worked as a freelance designer for about 10 years. When my circumstances changed, I found myself with no work, a new baby and lots of time on my hands so I started life-drawing classes, but when a friend suggested I join a sculpture class, I loved it. I had no idea that I would be able to work in three dimensions as I had been used to seeing everything from a graphic and linear perspective.
To my surprise my graphic background gave my work a very different look.
For me the lines and curves have to flow when viewed from every aspect.
I pare the form down until all that is left is its essence; ultimately the aesthetic of the piece is the most important element.
Although I may start a sculpture with an armature and an idea of what I am going to make, it very often changes during the process. It is the sculpture that dictates where it is going and I follow, refining my lines as it progresses.
Usually I work in plaster as I find it is easier to achieve the sharp edges and smooth surfaces that define my style. I love to capture the split second that epitomizes the dynamics of a movement, just as a photograph would – the frozen moment.
Always fascinated by pattern and curves found everywhere around me, as well as the dynamics of the body in motion, I aim to present abstracted human forms in the most aesthetically pleasing and harmonious way. I try to create a balance between movement and stillness, playing with the lines and negative spaces as well as the shape and form of the body itself. I love to capture the essence of a vibrant dance of the split second before a twist or turn.
I have exhibited widely in Galleries and Art Fairs around the country and was one of three short-listed artists for a sculpture at the Bank of England. My work is in the Unilever Collection and in private art collections in the UK and around the world.
Now, 20 years on, I love the process as much as I did in that first sculpture class. The realisation that my drawings can and have come to life is very satisfying, not bad for a Graphic Designer!