This month we are spotlighting Deborah Mcdermott. Deborah’s work is top notch and I always love to see what comes out of her studio. She does amazing sculptures and if you haven’t seen her work please visit her
website, she has several sculptures available right now so you might even find something to buy;) A big thank you to Deborah for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer our questions.
How did you get started sculpting model horses?
Horses have always been a passion for me and I have been drawing them for as long as I can remember. I started sculpting my first horse in the early 90s when I took a class in bronze casting with an eye towards creating bronze horses. I was inspired by Edwin Bogucki’s bronze Arabians that I’d seen in Arabian Horse World. I needed an object to cast so I sculpted a little Arabian filly that was cast into bronze and I have been sculpting horses on and off ever since. I sculpted many horses for bronze soon thereafter, but then I got busy with other things and stopped sculpting for a few years. What got me back into sculpting was my discovery of resins. I was surfing the web looking for alternative mediums that I could use to cast my own horses when I found the Buckler’s web site resinsbyrandy.com and contacted them about having a resin cast. I knew right away that this was something I wanted to try. Then I met Caroline Boydston and she graciously showed me her amazing collection and helped to critique my first resin Romantic. A few months later I took the plunge and went to the 2002 West Coast Jamboree as a vendor and I have been selling resins ever since.
What puts you "in the mood" to work?
An idea for a new sculpture always puts me in the mood to sculpt. Sometimes having a looming deadline provides the right inspiration LOL! The inspiration to sculpt can come from many different sources for me but most often it comes from being around the horses themselves. I have found that if I’m not in the mood to sculpt but I make myself get to work more often than not things start to fall into place and I can make a lot of progress. Sometimes this is how I get my best work done.
What gives you artist block and how do you break it?
I think it’s best to just work through it. Sometimes taking a break from my current project to work on something else provides a fresh outlook and renews my interest. Occasionally though I do take a break from sculpting completely when this happens to work on other projects.
What piece do you feel was the one that really got your "career" going?
I would have to say my first resin Romantic because he received a lot of attention right away and sold out quickly. It is also through this that I met several people who went out of their way to help me including the Bucklers who cast and molded Romantic and Kitty Cantrell who taught me how to create a waste mold and cast resin.
Do you have a favorite breed that you like to sculpt the most?
My personal favorite breeds are Arabians and Tennessee Walking Horses. I have not finished sculpting a Walker yet but I have some ideas that I am thinking about for future sculptures.
Do you have any children? If so, are they involved in the hobby too?
No, but I have a seven year old nephew in particular who is very involved in sculpting and painting resin and Sculpey figures. As he gets older his favorite subject matter has changed from monsters to dinosaurs to Mammoths and currently he is interested in brown bears and buffaloes, but his interest in sculpting and painting has not waned.
Where is your designated work area?
My apartment is pretty much dedicated to sculpting horses. Sometimes you can even find horses in the refrigerator. But when the weather is nice I sometimes like to take my work outdoors and into the paddocks and pastures.
What mediums and techniques do you use now, and which would you like experiment in the future?
I am very interested in ceramics and I would like to get back into bronze casting.
What brand of mediums(clay,tools,etc.) do you use? Or recommend?
My favorite clay is Sculpture House Roma Plastilina #2 which is a nice soft consistency. I also use JF McCaughin Classic Clay. My favorite sculpting tools are Colour Shapers which are rubber tipped tools in various shapes.
When did you start collecting model horses? and what do you collect the most of? OF’s, resins, etc….
I collected Breyers as a kid of which I retained a bay Proud Arabian Stallion and Midnight Sun. More recently I have collected a few resins. I also like to collect art prints.
Can you remember the first model that you sculpted that won a major award (Grand Champ, 
Reserve, Supreme etc.) in a show?
Probably the most accomplished is Desert Myst who is a Persuasion resin painted by Pamala Hutton. She is the 2005 Reserve Champion Artist Resin Arabian.
Do you have any tips for beginning artist to better their sculpting?
Yes I think that going out and looking at real horses is the best way to familiarize yourself with their form and movement. Take your sculpture out with the horses if you are able especially in the beginning and ending stages to check your work. I think it is also very helpful to collect reference pictures and to study them frequently while you are working.
What animal or subject are you interested in sculpting besides model horses?
I am a new Koi owner and they are just so adorable! I would very much like to sculpt a nice Koi. I have the beginnings of a baby butterfly Koi started, but I am not happy with my progress. I seem to be a one trick pony! All I can sculpt are horses.
Do you get any vacation time and if so, wheres your favorite place(s) to visit?
I haven’t had a real vacation in years. Anywhere outdoors would suit me though especially if there is lots of hiking and possible rock collecting involved.
Do you own any real horses? if not what breed would you most like to own?
I own five horses and they are all Arabians. Four of them are sired by my mother’s gorgeous Dreamazon/McCoy stallion. My other mare is a Red Tape daughter out of a Cal O Bask daughter. She and her dam were my inspiration for my sculpture Persuasion. My mare is also a chestnut sabino gone grey and so I was really pleased when Pamala painted Desert Myst this color. I was hoping she would 
In the past I have also owned a Tennessee Walker and I would adore to own another.
Why is the model horse hobby special to you?
What I like the most about the model horse hobby is the chance to share and enjoy horse sculpture with others who are just as crazy about model horses as I am.
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