The magical appeal of Mueck’s hyper-realistic sculptures is the result of a long, meticulous process, which begins with the crafting of a series of small clay models, letting him decide on the figure’s position. When the pose is determined, he makes decisions about scale, often making a series of drawings in different sizes. Next, Mueck sculpts the figure in clay, incorporating all the fine details of expression and skin texture that appear in the finished work. If the artist is making a very large figure (like In Bed), he first creates a metal frame which is then covered by wire mesh and covered in plaster strips before being covered with modelling clay.

When the clay figure is finished, a mould of the sculpture is made using silicone (or in the case of larger works, fibreglass). When using fibreglass, individual hairs are glued into holes that have been drilled by hand. Removing the sculpture from the mould is not an easy process, with the silicone at risk of being stretched or torn. Once removed, Mueck paints finer details (like veins and blemishes) on the surface, by hand, before finally sculpting the eyes, bringing his creations to life.