Prior to beginning construction of my large ceramic sculptures, I create a maquette or small 3-D model. The maquettes are typically sculpted in solid clay using both additive and subtractive processes. Each maquette is designed from a combination of drawings, photos, direct observation of a live model, and my imagination. Creating a maquette is my primary tool for discovering the form. The maquette then serves as a three-dimensional guide and a reference of my goal as I build the final form. I establish a ratio for enlargement and take measurements throughout construction to maintain desired proportions.