Dog statues, carvings, hang it on the wall

how him, I applied to a professional dog groomer. He did such a terrible job, that after the grooming session, I was ashamed to walk my dog in daylight. Probably the same disappointment has driven me to model breeds to fit the standard. I give 100% when grooming dogs, and I love every second of it. But there are only a few people who ask for a correct show groom. In some cases, the health or constitution of the dog (or simply the convictions of the owner), doesn't permit a full and correct show grooming session. Unfortunately, I think everyone in the grooming industry knows what is happening on this market, on dog shows, and how the dogs are evolving through the years. So this is where my hunger to create something very close to perfection comes from, according to the “bible” of the breeds, THE BREED STANDARD. I am not a breeder, just a terrier owner, terrier person who appreciates the beauty of many breeds.

2) What is the material and technique you use to work? I've started to model dogs about two years ago. My first breed was the Airedale terrier, of course. I will remodel it when the time comes. I want it to be perfect. The technique I used to create it is different than the technique I use now. I modeled it in clay, made a mold of gypsum, the statue also out of gypsum. I didn't consider to make it out of a different material, as I made it for myself, as a hobby, thought it would look good in my salon as design element. I don’t consider my statues as work. It’s my hobby, it relaxes me, I am modeling at home, after work. But still, my technique has evolved, now I use industrial plasticine to model the breed, this material is more resistant and doesn't get destroyed when making the mold. For the mold I use silicone, and the statues are made out of a very resistant two component acrylic resin. The process of casting has several technical steps.


3) How many times have you modeled a fox terrier and how did you do it? Well, you don’t have to model a dog many times. Just once is enough, but that one has to be perfect. My modeled breeds are in the standard position, and it takes up to 2- 3 months to be modeled. This includes research, sketches, calculations, proportions, discussions with different breed specialists and breeders.

4) Your sculptures are perfect. About how much does a statue cost at your workshop? First of all, I don’t have a workshop, as I said, I relax at home modeling the breeds in our living room. I don’t think that my statues are perfect. I was very surprised when people, breeders or owners were starting to ask the price of the statues I made. I was very happy, so I thought I will make 2-3 copies for the breeders, I already had the mold. I did not make any advertising for these statues, just posted pictures of the statues that I liked to my page, just to admire the positive features of the breed. So this is how it started. And I think it is evolving since then. Then I had an order. And I accepted. The order came from a man who really knows, breeds, judges and appreciates the breed as it should be: the Fox terrier, smooth and wire. On the other hand, I declined orders like: Black Russian Terrier playing with children, Fox Terrier on a sleigh….I like to consider that my statues are not like this, I think the market is full of items like these. So I started to work. Long nights, stayed up till 2-3 in the night, weekends, drawing, reading, measuring. I am not modeling a breed by looking at just one picture of a good dog. I collect more photos and drawings, opinions, use my knowledge, take the best parts of a dog and putting it in one dog. One has a good expression, the other a perfect topline, another one a good ear and tail set, another one a good size, anatomy, proportions….. And this is how a breed is “born”. You are asking about the price. The price depends on the size, color, etc. of the statue. Fortunately I already had my business, the grooming salon, so I had the proper legal background to start selling my statues. I am not a good sales person. I am a dog person. Luckily my wife takes care of client relations, customer service and sales, if any. Kovacs Attila
10th of January, 2015