JOHN CORMICAN | Sculptor

John Cormican is a London based figurative and portrait sculptor, as well as a talented painter. Based in Brixton, he has been a professional artists for almost four decades creative, inspiring and behind the scenes, the beating heart of his community.

John and I met whilst at Madame Tussauds HQ, working together creating the wax figures for the many MT attractions around the world. We instantly became friends with a shared passion for growth and perfection, collaboration and team work, so it was only natural that when we travelled the world together for our craft, we would establish a respect ad friendship that would last through lifetimes.

It is a huge honour that I was able to photograph John in his Brixton Studio and his works of art, following his journey through each piece and the breathtaking final results.

John has had a fantastic journey through his creative career to this point, starting out in model making where he was thrown in the deep end by a self taught sculptor, learning how to sculpt whilst on the job. When he moved into Special Make-up effects, where he encountered an additional steep learning curve whilst working with prosthetics on a feature film.

He then moved to Madame Tussauds and worked his way up to principal sculptor and travelled the world meeting celebrities (with me as photographer) to gather all the information needed to create their life like wax figure. He now works as a full time artist creating beautiful pieces that are steeped in meaning and depth, where he explores his artistic voice using his life’s skills whilst orbiting the central theme of his core belief… that of respect for the dignity of life.

‘There must have been times as a commercial artist where I must have thought this is it!! This is my destiny: My first walking on a film set, a Ridley Scott commercial (1986). My first feature film in the make-up rooms creating creature effects for Hellraiser, again 1986. 2002 winning an Emmy! You’d like to think by then I’ve dropped all feelings of ‘Imposter Syndrome’! But I still feel that it is a dream I still deeply desire to fulfil.’

For moron John and for a better look at his current work and commissions, look him up on instagram or on his website:

Instagram: @jcormican | Website: www.johncormican.com