Realism in Miniature: 20 Stunning Animal Sculptures By Fanni Sandor

Fanni Sandor, a 43-year-old artist from Budapest, Hungary, has always had a fascination with miniatures. She explains:

“I have crazy-love miniature things ever since my childhood. I was 6 when I made my first miniatures. It was a nicely furnished house from a shoe box. As I’m a biologist, the nature-based subjects inspire me principally, so I tried to make lifelike animals and plants. I have been making professional miniature animal sculptures for almost 14 years. In 2014, when I thought my miniatures were good enough, I applied for the IGMA Artisan title in the animal figures category, and I got it. It was a great honor. After two years of hard work, in 2016 I was awarded the IGMA Fellow title, and I was over the moon. Since then I have been trying to become better and better, I think the development never stops.”

The artist’s background in biology plays a significant role in her artwork, allowing her to recreate animals with astounding accuracy. Her husband, an agricultural engineer, has been a great support in her journey, as has her family. Now a full-time miniaturist, she dedicates herself entirely to refining her craft and pushing the boundaries of realism in her sculptures.

Each of Sandor’s sculptures is sculpted from FIMO polymer clay without the use of molds. She describes her intricate process in detail:

“The first step of making miniature animals is collecting a lot of pictures about the animal species I want to sculpt. After that I made a few sketches about the animal. The drawing is very important, because it’s much easier to sculpt if you make some study drawings from the subject. After that I made the sculpture. For sculpting, I use paper embossing tools, and pin ending tools. After baking, I add more details for the sculpture with my Dremel carving tools. The next step is painting. It’s very important for me, that I paint the finished sculpture very detailed, however the fur or feather coat will cover the paint. And the last step is the furring or feathering. I attached the fibers or feathers to the body with a strong glue. The legs are made of wire.”

Her approach to creating insects is equally detailed: “The insect’s made of polymer clay as well. Their legs and antennas are made of plastic fiber or very tiny wire. The wings are made of plastic foil (like dragonflies, bees) or liquid clay (like butterflies). I paint the wings with acrylic paint.”

Fanni Sandor’s work is an inspiring blend of art and science, where her love for nature and her meticulous craftsmanship shine through in every tiny detail. Her journey as a miniaturist continues to evolve, pushing the limits of what is possible in miniature sculpture. Through her work, she not only showcases the beauty of the natural world but also honors it by preserving its essence in the smallest of forms.

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