"Pop"

"Pop" as he was lovingly referred to by my family and I, passed away last night at 8:20 pm.
My father, William Barry Jr., was a wonderful man. He taught me to speak up for myself, to believe in myself and my dreams, to be the best I can be in whatever I choose to do and to stay clear of negative people. Oh yes, his favorite saying "Never look back" meaning push on, learn from experience and don't dwell on mistakes."
My father worked full time all the way up to his illness. It gave him purpose and as he was loved and respected by both his peers and his employees at Bank of America.
He was a Korean war veteran in the "Sea Bees" who had four sons, myself and my three brothers.
He was our father, our coach in baseball, basketball and whatever other sports we decided to take up. He was our biggest fan and he loved us as much as we loved him.
He used to stop by on his way home from work and spend an hour in the shop with me while i worked on vent figures. He was the one who gave me the name "Gepetto" and used to say "Hello Gepetto! who are you making today?"
He was my father, my best friend, a wonderful grandfather and great grandfather but most of all he was a wonderful man. He is with his wife Elizabeth now, who he has grieved for since losing her two years ago. I know they are happy to be together again. Please join me in praying for him. "God, our father, please welcome him in to your kingdom with open arms. Forgive him for his mistakes through trials on earth and understand we are only human. Grant him the peace he deserves and keep watch over us so we may join him in heaven someday and be together again. Amen.

Been a long time

Hi everyone,

It's been a long time since I have written on my blog. My father is in the hospital very ill and we have been visiting him with any time we have. The vent building will have to wait.
I have promised to put certain things on my blog that I haven't. I will get to them.
I joined facebook and one of those other thingies. I can't remember which one. I have had alot of comments on my figures and I thank everyone who has good or bad. You get better with criticism. The only criticism I have a problem with is being call "you conversion guys"
I recently had a comment from Mike Palma who said you conversion guys should sculpt your own figures so you get full credit instead of partial. so I will reiterate again. I do this because i like to. I don't care about credit or recognition. I do what makes me happy. I appreciate your comment Mike, but please don't lump me in to a group. I am Steve Barry. I make ventriloquist dummies, both full size and conversion figures. I have made figures for comedians in the United states and abroad and I make them by request. I shut down my website because I had to turn work away and I don't like to do that. I work as often as I can when I am not working at CCC. (I work there because the dummy business can't afford me insurance) otherwise I would be in my shop day and night. Because I LOVE what I do.
There are many examples of full size figures I have sculpted by hand on my blog as well as conversion figures. I love to work on look a like figures and use the Juro dummies for an armature. If I put saran wrap or tin foil around the Juro head, I would be able to take the casting off, then would it be original? Actually, whats the difference? The sculpting is mine, the dummy underneath is an armature. so I do sculpt my own figures. Just had to get that off my chest. One of the reasons I don't like joining or going to organized events and clubs. I apparently don't fit the guide lines. I do what I want because I enjoy it and as long as my customers are happy, so am I. Here are a couple of look alikes I accept "partial credit" for.