E.J.McCormick > Biography


		E. J. McCormick has refined his sculptural and lifecasting techniques for the last ten years. Though primarily self-taught, Chicago born and a New York transplant, he attended Carnegie Mellon University, and later served apprenticeships under such notables as Hiram Ball, Dave Parvin and Mark Prent. Versed in many artistic mediums, McCormick was first a landscape and figurative painter working in oils and watercolor. But the classical influence of the Greeks and Renaissance soon began surfacing in his work as life-size sculptural creations. Those creations are sought after not only by private collectors, but also by corporations such as Warner Bros. Inc., and DeBeers Ltd. McCormick works and teaches from his east coast facility, ArtMolds Sculpture Studio. He relies on his career as a businessman for the operation of Life-Casting.com, an internationally networked company that develops and distributes lifecasting supplies to artists and creative types throughout the world. He is the founder and the managing director of The Association of Lifecasters International (ALI). McCormick currently resides in Millington, New Jersey with his wife Hong Zhao and two dogs Xiemei and Baoboa. Interview With Sculptor Ed McCormick Jan 6, 2003 Introduction: Ed McCormick is an internationally renowned sculptor, lifecaster, teacher and author with a studio in Millington, NJ. His realistic sculptures are in private and corporate collections around the world. He has demonstrated his unique techniques on television and workshops across the US. When was your first encounter with lifecasting sculpture? Was it as a student? What kind of an encounter was it? No, actually I was in my 50’s. I was rushing through the airport in Ft Lauderdale when I saw motionless figure sitting in a glass room. I thought he was a mime he was so real. Later I learned it was a sculpture by the late Dwayne Hansen. After I learned that, I was hooked and began taking workshops from a number of lifecasting artists throughout the country to develop my technique. Are there any contemporary, historical sculptors, or artists that you specifically admire? Roy Butler is probably my favorite contemporary artist. He creates beautiful objects that I can stare at for hours. Philip Hitchcock and David Parvin are both artists that inspire me as well. What is lifecasting? Lifecasting is the art of taking a mold directly from the human form and then creating an artistic sculpture from the mold. In other words I place a rubber like material against the skin. It captures the detail down to the fingerprints. From that mold I make a master casting and sculpt open eyes, add hair and other details until I am satisfied with the look. The finished piece is extraordinarily realistic because much of it is a direct copy from the body. Are all your models naked and do they object to you touching them? Yes, they are nude as it is very difficult to capture the effects of cloth. When cloth is needed to cover I add it in a later step. Though I do apply the material with my hands, I’m actually concentrating not on the sensation of my actions, but on the speed of my actions as the material has a very short set time. I am concentrating on getting my best coverage before that material set. I really don’t have the chance to admire the beauty of the model until I pull the final cast from the mold and by that time the model is long gone. Where do your ideas come from? They are all ultimately inspired from the human form. I begin with the message that I wish to convey. Then I begin to toss around various ways that that message can be projected. I fill my head with pictures. What do I want to convey? What sorts of shapes would work in this space? The two start coming together as I throw out certain ideas, strengthen some others, and add new ones. I try very hard to incorporate a humorous or lighthearted element in each piece to help soften the message. I also like to work on several levels so that there is always a great deal of subtext to the sculpture. Once I have those concepts in mind, I set about working out all the finer details. What famous models have you cast? The majority of my models are young women in their early 20’s who have had no modeling experience. I find that these are the best models as they are willing and eager with no preconceptions. Though I have cast well known models such international model, Iman, David Bowie’s wife. As I observe your works, I feel your perspective is quite sexual. This perspective often seems to shock the spectator with its rawness. Is that your intention? How would you describe your sculpture? Yes, you are right I do explore sexuality in many of my pieces. They often have shock value, but that is purposefully designed to hold the viewer’s attention long enough so that they can read the messages within the piece. My main goal is to first create a beautiful object, something that will seduce you to stare at it, spend some time with it. Once that is accomplished, you actually have a chance to say something to the viewer. If you don't grab someone's attention immediately, seduce their eye; you will never get them to learn anything more about the piece. While looking through your portfolio, I see a number of pieces that you describe as the ‘Woman’s Issue Series.’ Will you please tell us about that? That is a series of sculptures I am still working on. It will be a collection of 12-pieces each with its own story about an important woman’s issue. That will include, birth control as in “The Patch,” pregnancy “The Melon,” body augmentation, “Balloons,” inequity, as in “Las Crusis.” Tell us about your latest piece “Balloons” Balloons was a difficult piece to create . . . especially a realistic looking balloon that appears to float in the air. Though in it’s completed state it appears a bit excessive and maybe sophomoric, I wanted to deliver a message on breast augmentation. It is an issue that concerns many women not being satisfied with there own bodies. Our model was Rhiannon, a well know overly endowed model working in the adult industry. She looks up at the balloon as an example of what she wants to be; ample, fun loving and a source of attention wherever she goes. Her fantasy does not manifest well into reality. It's attainable, but is plastic surgery the answer? I leave it to the viewer to come to their own conclusion. The sculpture itself is white while the only color is the red of the balloon, why is that? The message I am trying convey is the purity of the figure . . . if not a virginal innocence. The whiteness is a great part of that message. The red balloon was created to capture the eye before the rest of the figure is revealed. The red is a vibrant color filled with life and in turn conveying the message of its own importance in the sculpture. A size and emotion to aspire to. What will you be working on now? I have begun my latest project called “The Kiss” a play on the works of Rodin. In it will be two women embracing in Rodin’s famous pose. It will be my largest work to date. Thank you, Ed, and good luck on your next project. Thank you so much. ###