Let’s explore the unique creative processes behind the works of three sculptors: Dylan Martinez, Lucrecia Waggoner, and JD Hansen.
Each artist brings a distinct approach to their craft—Martinez combines traditional glassblowing with innovative techniques to capture movement and light; Waggoner shapes delicate porcelain forms with refined precision and enriches them with precious metals; while Hansen sculpts evocative bronze figures that balance strength and subtle emotion.
Dylan Martinez
To create his “Water Bag” sculptures, Dylan Martinez begins by gathering molten glass, carefully shaping it to mimic the fluidity and weight of water. Drawing from his scientific background, he skillfully sculpts details like air bubbles, folds, and creases that replicate the delicate texture of thin plastic. High-heat torches help him perfect these realistic features.
After shaping, each piece undergoes a slow annealing process over several days, which relieves internal stress and ensures durability. Consequently, Martinez achieves stunning optical illusions—glass sculptures that look like soft, sloshing water yet remain rigid and permanent. His red-green colorblindness further informs his artistic vision, fueling his fascination with perception and sensory boundaries.
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Lucrecia Waggoner
Lucrecia Waggoner’s process centers on her expert wheel-throwing of delicate white porcelain, a skill she has refined over nearly twenty years. Because porcelain is soft and temperamental, it demands her patience and precise control. After shaping each vessel, she may carve, incise, or leave the surface smooth. Then, she enhances her forms with glazes, oil paint, or precious-metal leafing in 22k gold, platinum, or palladium, creating jewel-like, luminous finishes.
Each vessel functions as part of a larger installation. She begins by carefully measuring the exhibition space and sketching detailed compositions, then numbers each piece to ensure perfect placement. Through this meticulous process, Waggoner transforms porcelain forms into flowing visual landscapes that evoke depth and tranquility.
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JD Hansen
JD Hansen’s sculptural process balances classical technique with contemporary themes, primarily working in bronze. She begins by sketching or modeling clay maquettes that capture raw emotions such as vulnerability and resilience. These initial forms are developed into full-scale sculptures through the traditional lost-wax casting method—a meticulous, multi-step process that involves creating molds, wax models, ceramic shells, and finally casting in molten bronze.
Throughout each phase, Hansen works with intention, emphasizing the emotional connection between form and feeling. Her figures, often elongated and simplified, rely on gesture and movement rather than fine detail, revealing beauty through restraint and inviting quiet reflection.
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