I created this model in plasticine as a study for a painting . Model building is an old method  that has not been popular among artsts for may centuries, but it provides a great deal of form, knowledge.  As a child I built model airplains from balsa wood and tissue paper, as well as ship models , in and out of bottles. So my model building has a long history. 

This is a hand built pot using potters clay. My wife always insisted that it looked very much like our next door neighbour and that we should keep the pot hidden. Now that we have moved no one will know what neighbour I am talking about. 

Jake comes from a bedtine story I used to read my daughter. It is the adventure story of a bird that would not give up trying to fly until he achieved success. Jake was exhibited in the early 80's  at a local craft exhibition but I refused to sell him. 

Even in this poor quality image you can sense his forms. I chose to sculpt Jake just as he experienced another one of his failures.