Capturing Fleeting Moments: The Sculptures of Mela Cooke
Mela Cooke is an acclaimed sculptor whose works capture the beauty and character of the people, animals, and experiences in her world. With her unique ability to capture inner moments in bronze, Mela Cooke’s sculptures are renowned for their varied qualities of surface and line, negative space, motion, and emotion. Through her powerful sculptures, Mela Cooke allows viewers to experience an inner connection with the artwork.
Mela Cooke is a master of her craft in creating sculptures that showcase the character and beauty of people, animals, and experiences. One of the most remarkable elements in her work is her ability to create stunning works of art by combining surface and line.
“Early Mornings” Bronze by Mela Cooke.
“The connection between two swimmers is not just created on the edge of the pool, it is a part of their life, swimming laps, counting their strokes and being together in the early morning sun.”
Her sculptures’ lines are deliberate and precise and often evoke powerful emotions. She captures the expression, movement, and personality of her subjects. She is able to capture the essence of life through her sculptures and make them tangible for viewers to experience.
Mela’s sculptures have extraordinary detail and depth, from using strong and defined lines to applying light and shadow. Her use of negative space allows her to focus her attention on the subject and create the illusion of motion in her sculptures. As a result, she brings life and emotion to her work.
“Wrapped” Bronze by Mela Cooke.
“‘Wrapped’ is a play on words. The young woman is at once wrapped and rapt. She has a healthy sense of serenity and is not distracted by the world around her.”
Mela Cooke’s sculptures are primarily made from bronze, which she has come to appreciate for its beauty and timelessness. After working across various mediums, including marble and timber, Mela found her artistic passion in bronze. She often combines this material with others to create the stunning sculptures she is known for. She can capture moments in time by combining different textures, colors, and shapes. Mela also utilizes various patinas to add color and texture to her work. Each sculpture is crafted with attention to detail and a commitment to quality.
Mela Cooke’s creative process starts with her deep appreciation of the human form and its subtle details. She often works with photos and live models to capture the essence of her subject.
Mela sculpts in clay, refining it over an extended period. Once satisfied with the result, she casts her sculptures in bronze, a medium that lends itself to exacting details and specifications. This is a very detailed and labor-intensive process that requires time, energy, and emotional connection.
Negative space is a technique that Mela uses to create atmosphere and emotion in her work. By focusing on the areas around the subject matter, Mela can capture the feeling of a moment or situation. She creates a balance between the positive and negative, between the represented and the absent. Negative space gives her sculptures a sense of movement and energy, allowing the viewer to find beauty and meaning in what is not depicted. By focusing on the gaps between elements, Mela can bring out the essence of a subject without showing its complete form. This gives her sculptures a unique dynamic that captures the character and emotion of her subjects.
“Perfect Balance” Bronze by Mela Cooke.
“Life is a matter of balance.
A certain amount of work, as well as play. An adequate amount of physical exertion and also rest.
Appreciation of art and the physicality of creating it.”
Mela Cooke – Top featured Artist.
Mela Cooke’s sculptures are full of movement and life. She can capture a moment in time, perfectly encapsulating the movement’s dynamic and fleeting nature. Mela takes advantage of the malleability of bronze and uses her creative eye to craft expressive figures with smooth, curved lines and intentional motion. The figurative sculptures depict animals, athletes, and dancers in motion, creating dynamic and realistic art pieces. Her expert use of movement allows her sculptures to come alive in viewers’ hands.
Viviana Puello
Editor-in-Chief
