This miniature human bust measures about 12 inches tall (including the base) and took about 6 weeks to design and build.  The sculpture was commissioned by the subject’s colleagues and presented to him as a 30th work anniversary gift.

Building it

Making human faces with LEGO bricks is very challenging, and it’s even more challenging at smaller sizes — you tend to really fight with the blockiness of the LEGO bricks.  The results are always a little cartoony — which, honestly, I love!

I built over 15 different faces in an attempt to winnow down a style that worked at this scale and an aesthetic that looked enough like the subject.  For weeks, my desk was littered with stray noses and chins and eyeballs.

Projects like this have no shortcuts or digital tricks up their sleeves… it’s just a lot of old fashioned building – and rebuilding.  After 6 weeks of work, the head was finally done and the client was incredibly happy with the likeness!