In the end, I decided that constructing models with Lego is a form of constrained sculpture - it's not free-form like working with marble or clay. This constraint means that a lot of the modeling creates almost impressionist output, in that you're given a hint of what a piece within the model is for by the context of it - and so a minifig flipper is now the feet of a duck. But at the same time, many Lego models have moving parts - they're kinetic sculptures, in the same way that Rolling Ball Sculpture (something I'm fascinated by) is kinetic.

But in all, when you build a Lego model, you're sculpting - that's what I decided. So get your supplies for that from me!