Gene Schklair's skill as an artist comes from within. His earliest recollection is of a figurative clay piece he created as a 4-year-old. He has spent a lifetime studying anatomy, physiology and art history. He has spent years researching various materials. The search for a medium that was emotionally satisfying has led him through ceramics, lost wax, papier mache and finally to plaster-impregnated gauze--a medium which makes him a rarity among sculptors.
Occasionally, if a piece is complicated, Schklair will create a clay maquette to work through the logistics for the finished piece. If not, he just begins his project using wire and plaster. He starts by creating a wire armature in the form of the body, bust, etc. The armature is covered with wet plaster-impregnated orthopedic gauze. He starts with large strips of gauze and continues layering the armature with smaller and smaller pieces as more detail is added. Schklair then refines the basic sculpture and adds the features--still made of plaster. After allowing two days to dry, he creates texture and paints the surface with gesso. The sculpture is then painted using acrylic paint and glaze.
Adding multimedia for emphasis, Schklair's work often tells a story on two levels; stimulating one’s interest with whimsy, followed by one’s discovery of the deeper, intellectual message. As Schklair views people and their foibles, he is inspired to exaggerate the human condition, resulting in his captivating and whimsical sculptures.
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