This article was written back in July but there are some good pics on it
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/07/21/2309586.htm
When you walk into Brett Garling's studio in Wongarbon you're greeted by a larger than life effigy of Parramatta Eels great Ray Price.
The sculpture of the 1980s League legend is Brett's latest piece of commission work and at the moment he's enjoying the process of creating the sculpture in clay.
But Brett isn't just a sculptor, he's also a painter.
"Being able to turn your hand to different mediums is a benefit in this game in that if you get a little bit stale doing one you can always turn your hand to the other."
"That way, you've never stopped working and you're never out of work."
"The artistsic wanings sort of lead one way or the other... so it nice to be able to wake up and if you feel like sculpting you can sculpt and if you feel like painting you can paint."
So how does a sculptor from Wongarbon get commissioned to do such a prominent piece of work?
"Initially it all went through the tender process just like any job," says Brett.
And although Brett describes the tender process as rather effortless, the real work started when was awarded the job.
"I met with Ray and Ray sat for me and I did some preliminary sketches in pencil," says Brett. "[Then I] did a small clay bust and came back and welded up an armature which is the steel frame that'll support the whole sculpture, it almost acts as a skeleton.
"From there I sculpt over the top of that, working with his proportions."
"Ray's since been over and had a couple of sittings and it's all gone well," says Brett. "It's nearing its final stage of the sculpting."
"From there it will go into the casting stage which is a whole other ball game, we're looking at a couple of months' work from that stage to get to a bronze."
The casting process is long and complicated, involving moulds, wax duplicates, then casting the sculpture section by section in bronze. These sections then get welded together and tidied up to become the sculpture you see installed.
Although the clay sculpting process is undoubtedly the most creative portion for any artist, Brett didn't actually get to choose Ray Price's pose.
"It wasn't my decision at all, it was actually Ray's decision, "He chose himself... after the '86 grand final where he captained Parramatta to win over Canterbury."
"It was also his last game, so it meant a lot to Ray."
After spending so much time with Ray Price in the sketching and sculpting, what does he think of the legend?
"He's a real character, he's a real personality... but he's quite chuffed, he's quite flattered that there's going to be a sculpture erected in his image."
"I guess it's the goal of all artists to have public work out there to be seen and appreciated by the public."
"I've done other commission work before but none ever so public being installed at the entrance way to Parramatta Stadium, I don't think you can get any more public than that."
Brett isn't sure when he'll get his next holiday.
"I finish this job in late September and I get started on a life-size Man From Snowy River piece which is a life-size horse and rider descending the slope which will be installed at Corryong just over the border in Victoria.
