


Wax Snake Head Écorché by Heather O'Shaughnessy
An Écorché, (French translation flayed or skinned ) is an anatomical figure with the skin removed to show the location and interplay of muscles. This snake head ecorché—created by wax artist Heather O'Shaughnessy— was first sculpted in clay and then a mold was made. It was then cast in beeswax, details carved, and hand painted in oils. It is mounted on black velvet in a black stained wooden frame with subtle trim detailing. Outer frame measures 14.5" x 12"
Heather O’Shaughnessy is an American artist currently residing in Saint Louis Missouri. She works across disciplines as a wax sculptor, illustrator and ceramic artist. She works primarily in wax, porcelain, and gypsum and actively participates in exhibitions throughout the United States and Europe. Inspired by the lost art of wax portraiture in miniature, she developed her process with wax through trial and error, as few references to the details of technique have survived. This endeavor involves sculpting, mold making, casting, carving and painting. Her wax pieces often include wax dipped laces, gold leaf and rich velvets encased under convex glass, a nod to sacred reliquary. Her work is an exploration of a mystical world that exists just beyond the veil. “I am endlessly intrigued by themes of the miraculous depicted in devotional paintings. Spiritual visitations, otherworldly communications through energy beams and misty apparitions - interpreting the metaphysical, supernatural and imponderable through sculpture, giving them a physical form in wax is my greatest delight.”
Heather teaches wax and porcelain focused workshops and releases collections of miniature sculptures in limited edition.
An Écorché, (French translation flayed or skinned ) is an anatomical figure with the skin removed to show the location and interplay of muscles. This snake head ecorché—created by wax artist Heather O'Shaughnessy— was first sculpted in clay and then a mold was made. It was then cast in beeswax, details carved, and hand painted in oils. It is mounted on black velvet in a black stained wooden frame with subtle trim detailing. Outer frame measures 14.5" x 12"
Heather O’Shaughnessy is an American artist currently residing in Saint Louis Missouri. She works across disciplines as a wax sculptor, illustrator and ceramic artist. She works primarily in wax, porcelain, and gypsum and actively participates in exhibitions throughout the United States and Europe. Inspired by the lost art of wax portraiture in miniature, she developed her process with wax through trial and error, as few references to the details of technique have survived. This endeavor involves sculpting, mold making, casting, carving and painting. Her wax pieces often include wax dipped laces, gold leaf and rich velvets encased under convex glass, a nod to sacred reliquary. Her work is an exploration of a mystical world that exists just beyond the veil. “I am endlessly intrigued by themes of the miraculous depicted in devotional paintings. Spiritual visitations, otherworldly communications through energy beams and misty apparitions - interpreting the metaphysical, supernatural and imponderable through sculpture, giving them a physical form in wax is my greatest delight.”
Heather teaches wax and porcelain focused workshops and releases collections of miniature sculptures in limited edition.
An Écorché, (French translation flayed or skinned ) is an anatomical figure with the skin removed to show the location and interplay of muscles. This snake head ecorché—created by wax artist Heather O'Shaughnessy— was first sculpted in clay and then a mold was made. It was then cast in beeswax, details carved, and hand painted in oils. It is mounted on black velvet in a black stained wooden frame with subtle trim detailing. Outer frame measures 14.5" x 12"
Heather O’Shaughnessy is an American artist currently residing in Saint Louis Missouri. She works across disciplines as a wax sculptor, illustrator and ceramic artist. She works primarily in wax, porcelain, and gypsum and actively participates in exhibitions throughout the United States and Europe. Inspired by the lost art of wax portraiture in miniature, she developed her process with wax through trial and error, as few references to the details of technique have survived. This endeavor involves sculpting, mold making, casting, carving and painting. Her wax pieces often include wax dipped laces, gold leaf and rich velvets encased under convex glass, a nod to sacred reliquary. Her work is an exploration of a mystical world that exists just beyond the veil. “I am endlessly intrigued by themes of the miraculous depicted in devotional paintings. Spiritual visitations, otherworldly communications through energy beams and misty apparitions - interpreting the metaphysical, supernatural and imponderable through sculpture, giving them a physical form in wax is my greatest delight.”
Heather teaches wax and porcelain focused workshops and releases collections of miniature sculptures in limited edition.