EPISODE 49

John Cormican // Sculptor

SCULPTING FOR MADAME TUSSAUDS

DISCUSSED DURING THE SHOW:

  • The importance of putting yourself out there, getting connections and making friends with people devoted to art – other artists, institutions and businesses who are in the industry you want to be in. These connections tend to get you where you want to be and you'll carry these with you for life.
  • What it's like to have doors that were once opened to you close. In a sense being pushed out - when this happens, having belief in yourself and a ferocious work ethic is crucial.
  • The love and pain of learning Zbrush and the importance of pursuing things you find the hardest as this is often where you learn the most.
  • What it was like working in film and TV back in the good old days, the tools available then and all the changes John has experienced during his career.
  • The formula of sculpting for Madame Tussauds
  • What it's like to start from scratch again and how to shape your life to what you want it to be
Art Heroes Podcast ep.49:
John Cormican // Sculptor
Listen to the episode now:
Who is it
John Cormican had a successful 23-year career in film and TV working in Special Make-Up FX and Animatronic Design. Starting out as part of the Hellraiser design team, a cult indie horror film, working on big budget films like Gladiator to small films like Son of Rambow and lots of commercials, videos and tv series. He won an Emmy in 2002 for his prosthetic work in Jim Henson's Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story.

Why should you listen
Listen to appreciate John's wealth of both insightful and inspiring knowledge on life and sculpting for the Film and TV industries. During his decades long career, John has seen and experienced so many changes in the working processes and materials in the Visual FX industry, gaining lots of transferrable skills along the road of highs and lows, open doors and closed, which has lead him to becoming the Fine Artist that he is today.
"I'm venturing into the world of fine artists and I've got a voice and I want to use it."
About John Cormican
John Cormican had a successful 23-year career in film and TV working in Special Make-Up FX and Animatronic Design. Starting out as part of the Hellraiser design team, a cult indie horror film, working on big budget films like Gladiator to small films like Son of Rambow and lots of commercials, videos and tv series. He won an Emmy in 2002 for his prosthetic work in Jim Henson's Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story.

In 2005 John started working at Madame Tussauds as a portrait sculptor and after two years became a full-time Senior Sculptor, sculpting the likes of Snoop Dogg, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Rey from Star Wars - often sculpting more than 6 portraits a year.

When John's time at Tussauds came to an end in 2018, he embarked on a fresh Fire Art venture, giving him the chance to use all his hard-earned skills and talents. He recently exhibited his portrait of David Bowie as Aladdin Sane in the Society of Portrait Sculptors in their FACE 2020 exhibition. John works mostly in clay, water-based and oil based, digitally and is a talented painter.

Listen to appreciate John's wealth of both insightful and inspiring knowledge on life and sculpting for the Film and TV industries. During his decades long career, John has seen and experienced so many changes in the working processes and materials in the Visual FX industry, gaining lots of transferrable skills along the road of highs and lows, open doors and closed, which has lead him to becoming the Fine Artist that he is today.
"I had this thing and it's instilled in me, this pursuit of perfection, I want the person's mother to cry when they see this portrait."
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MARIA JD
Art Heroes Podcast Host
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