Portfolio

Pelican

Pelican – Bronze, edition of 20, 6”H x 9.5”L x 5”W

I have always marveled at the sight of pelicans, flying in formation, skimming the water, and soaring on updrafts along the California coast. When I began researching them as a subject for a sculpture, I came to realize just how big these birds are; with their huge pouched bill, long sinuous neck, and giant wingspan. Yet, what really captured my attention was how the pelican can fold up all those big appendages into a tight compact form. My pelican is perched in a folded up pose, conserving heat on a blustery day, planning his next plunge into the sea.

Curly Ewe

Curly Ewe - Bronze, edition of 15, 7”H x 9.5”L x 4”W

Exhibitions: 2013 International Exhibition on Animals in Art, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA

Sheep seem to be more wool than animal, so their thick coat creates lots of possibilities for the sculptor. Instead of creating a sense of “wooliness”, I chose to give this ewe a very stylish coat, not wool-like at all. I also studied the poses of fashion models. Since I had four legs to deal with, I positioned the front legs in the fashion model’s one-foot-in-front-of-the-other pose, and the back legs with the leg-to-the-side-pose. This ewe also has that look of knowing how beautiful her outfit really is.

Courting Birds

Courting Birds - Bronze, edition of 15, 5"H x 10"L x 5"W

Many bird species mate for life, and to attract their one-and-only, they often put on elaborate courtship displays. I was inspired by the unusual poses that courting birds adopt for just brief moments, sometimes in unison, creating a symmetrical unified form, like Yin and Yang. My two birds fan their feathers, flex their wings, and gaze into each other’s eyes. Sometimes, that is all it takes.

Preening Parrot

Preening Parrot - Bronze, edition of 15, 6"H x 9"L x 6"W

There is so much about parrots that captivate us: colorful plumage, curiosity, longevity, intelligence, and ability to mimic sounds and speech. Even their fastidious preening can seem human-like behavior. This little green parrot is sorting out her tail feathers to keep them in flight ready condition. Or, perhaps, to catch the eye of a mate?

Octopus

Octopus - Bronze, edition of 15, 2.75”H x 4”L x 3”W

One would think it would be easy to sculpt a creature that has no bones. Actually, I found it makes it more difficult, especially when trying to capture the stealthy, undulating motion of the octopus. I sculpted my octopus with a camouflaged, flowing form to contrast with the smooth base. His arms curl and coil, propelling him along and, at the same time, carefully exploring the surroundings.

King of the Coop

King of the Coop - Bronze, edition of 15, 8"H x 9"L x 4"W

The rooster is the epitome of avian attitude. Aloof, strutting, loud, demanding, and perfectly attired, the rooster is definitely the "King of the Coop". By simply extending his foot, this bird conveys his superiority. I love it when an animal can express so much with just a small simple gesture.

Osprey

Osprey - Bronze, edition of 15, 10”H x 12.5”L x 7”W

The osprey is an amazing fish-eating bird of prey. While an eagle will pluck a fish from the water with its sharp talons, the osprey can plunge feet first into the water, submerging if needed, to grasp its prey. Unlike a seabird that can float on the water as it swallows its catch, the osprey must immediately regain flight and carry its fish to a safe perch where it can dine. In this sculpture, water, fish and bird are bonded together just as they are in life.

Shell

Shell - Bronze, edition of 15, 6”H x 8”L x 5”W

Shells are the amazing homes of some very nondescript creatures. When we think of beautiful mollusks, it is their shells that come to mind. Most spiral shells twist in a right-handed direction. When I created this shell, I knew it would be special in that it has a uniquely carved interior. It is also a left-handed spiral, which at the time I did not realize was a rare growth pattern. So this is a very special shell.

Barn Swallows

Barn Swallows - Bronze, edition of 15, 12”H x 11”L x 12.5”W

Exhibitions: 2011 Birds In Art - Woodson Art Museum, WI

On a summer camping trip, I became mesmerized watching a swarm of Barn Swallows flitting in and out of an old picnic pavilion. Their speed and aerial acrobatics made it difficult to closely study them, but I was inspired. However, sculptures of birds in flight pose a problem for the sculptor because they must be anchored to a base. I chose the smallest contact point possible, the wing tips, and an unobtrusive cube for a stable base. Their wings seem to just graze the base as they fly past.

Preening Swan

Preening Swan - Bronze, edition of 15, 9.5"H x 9"L x 7.5"W

Exhibitions: 2011 51st Annual Exhibition, Society of Animal Artists - Dennos Museum, MI and national tour
2012 Pacific Art League, Animals Exhibition - Palo Alto, CA, 1st Place

Swans are often depicted as symbols of grace, love, and tranquility. In fact, they are large, powerful, and, at times, aggressive birds that will fight to the death to defend their territory and mate. Instead of the typical graceful pose, I chose to emphasis the swan’s power and confidence by sculpting it in the act of preening while ruffling those large powerful wings. The dark patina also enhances the sense that this is a bird to respect.

Tumble of Trout

Tumble of Trout - Bronze, edition of 15, small 5”H x 5”L x 5”W, large 7.5”H x 7.5”L x 7.5”W

Fish have simple shapes and limited movements. There is not a lot to a fish that can be expressive or captivating. That was my challenge in creating this piece: use the simple form of the fish to express their flashing speed. By combining three trout in a spherical shape, I capture their darting motion in a swirling ball. This piece is available in two sizes. The larger size could be a center of a small fountain.

Lioness

Lioness- Bronze, edition of 15, 8.5”H x 8.5”L x 6.5”W

Exhibitions: 2012 52nd Annual Exhibition, Society of Animal Artists - Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, Oradell, NJ

The lion is King of the Beasts, yet it is losing the kingdom. My lioness watches: for prey, for her cubs, for the survival of her species? When the king is gone, what becomes of the kingdom? When there is no queen, there is no heir. The African Lion is on the edge. She is watching…

Bighorn Sheep

Bighorn Sheep - Bronze, edition of 15, 9.5”H x 6”L x 6”W

I posed my Bighorn sheep on a majestic mountaintop, the rightful place for so grand an animal, well adapted to rugged terrain and high peaks. It is also a precarious place. He is on the brink, just as his species is in real life. Unable to climb higher, we must give him more room.

Otter Twins

Otter Twins - Bronze, edition of 15, 5.5”H x 6”L x 5.5”W

Like the littermates of many mammal species, these otters enjoy a brief time in their lives when days are spent playing, napping, and being fed. However, the responsibilities of adulthood are coming soon for these two. They seem to pause for a moment to ponder what lies ahead. But only for a moment, it is still playtime.

Egret

Egret - Bronze, edition of 15, 11"H x 6.25"L x 6.25"W

My inspiration for the Egret comes from her statuesque form as she patiently stands in the wetland shallows, waiting for any movement of insects, crustaceans, or fish. She will slowly stretch out her long neck to take aim, and then pluck up the prey with amazing speed. Once the meal is swallowed, she resumes the statue stance once again. Typically white in color, I chose to leave my egret sculpture in a natural bronze color to emphasize the beautiful unique shape of this patient bird.

Macaw

Macaw - Bronze, edition of 15, 22”H x 8”L x 8”W

The blue Hyacinth Macaw is the largest of the Macaw parrots, thanks to its extra-long tail feathers. In order to show her lovely long feathers, I perched this Macaw on a tall base so her long tail can hang down the back.

Fledgling

Fledgling - Bronze, edition of 15, 19”H x 13”L x 10”W

My fledgling crow is taking off on his first flight. Not only is he leaving home for the first time, but he is also breaking free from earth, taking to the air to soar into the sky. Is he thrilled by this new freedom, a little fearful, or just driven by instinct? What does his mother think when she arrives back at the nest to find him gone?

Squirrel Chase

Squirrel Chase - Bronze, edition of 15, 17"H x 7"L x 7"W

There are a great many squirrels that live in the oak forest around my home. Filled with curiosity, they seem to want to study me just as much as I want to study them. In spring there is a lot of chasing going on, with the females playing hard to get. In my sculpture, she has nowhere to go but to face her pursuer. She will probably just jump over him and the chase will be on again.

Swimming Otter

Swimming Otter - Bronze, edition of 15, 8"H x 6"L x 3"W

Like all wild animals, the otter lives its life in survival mode. Yet, watch an otter swim, and one has to think that there is joy and fun in their lives as well. I tried to study live otters at the aquarium, but they where just too fast and their antics too funny for me to be able to do careful studies. I ended up making a clay model of my otter, which I twisted and turned until I captured the pose that says “joy”.

Kangaroo

Kangaroo - Bronze, edition of 15, 5.5”H x 10”L x 4”W

I just had to sculpt a kangaroo. They are bizarre in so many ways, yet so well adapted for what they do: a muscular tail for a third leg, an elongated foot with three toes for hopping instead of walking, a pouch for raising young, surviving on a diet of grass and brush. That is what I love about sculpture; I get to study such amazing creatures. Look closely, there is a “joey” peeking out of that pouch.

Catch of the Day

Catch of the Day - Bronze, edition of 15, 10"H x 7"L x 5"W

The hunting otter must have speed and agility in order to hunt while he holds his breath. Missing his catch means a return to the surface, a missed meal, and a waste of energy. He has little time to stalk or study his prey. Once sighted, it is all or nothing. By using a simple pyramid as a base, I accentuate the otter, in his speedy quest, as well as the crab’s scurry for survival.

Night Fox

Night Fox - Bronze, edition of 15, 5.5"H x 12.5"L x 4.25"W

Exhibitions: 2013 National Art Exhibit - Artists Asso. of Northern Colorado, Ft. Collins, CO

With a keen sense of smell and hearing, not much can escape a fox once it is on a scent. From the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail, this fox is all concentration. Imagine what it must be like to be able to read the past with your nose and “see” the present with your ears. I am always in awe of how animals perceive their world with senses far beyond what we humans can imagine.

Heron

Heron - Bronze, edition of 15, 11”H x 11”L x 11”W

Herons are carnivorous birds and will eat any creature they can catch and swallow. They often hunt in shallow wetlands, slowly walking and stirring up the mud to flush out prey that they snatch or spear with their long beak. As my heron strolls the watery base, he spies a possible meal moving under the water.

Cougar

Cougar - Bronze, edition of 15, 11”H x 8.5”L x 7”W

Exhibitions: 2013 National Art Exhibit - Artists Asso. of Northern Colorado, Ft. Collins, CO

Cougars, or mountain lions, have become more common around my home, although I have never seen one in the wild. Like many of the large, solitary predators, the cougar must be very careful in planning its hunt. It cannot waste energy on long chases, so it hunts by stalking and ambushing. This cougar is watching and waiting.

Owl

Owl - Bronze, edition of 15, 10”H x 5”L x 7”W

Owls are masters of the night. Their flat feathered face amplifies sound to their ears so that the owl can hear the smallest of mice. Its large forward facing eyes give it sharp eyesight to maneuver through the dark forest on large silent wings. Long sharp talons put a quick end to the prey.

Phoenix Rising

Phoenix Rising - Bronze, edition of 15, 13”H x 8.5”L x 5”W

The myth of the Phoenix firebird was part of many ancient cultures, such as Arabian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Chinese, and Indian. It told of a bird that lived for 100 or more years, and then built a nest that it set ablaze. From the flames and ashes, the Phoenix was reborn to live another 100 years. Although there are many variations of the myth, the Phoenix is a symbol of rebirth and renewal. My Phoenix is fashioned after the Caracara, a prehistoric-looking hawk. I enjoyed the freedom that sculpting a mythical creature brings, there is no right or wrong. However, the flames and the pose were a challenge. I wanted the bird to be seen taking form from the flames, and not seen as an unlucky bird that has landed on a barbeque.

Hare

Hare - Bronze, edition of 15, 7.5”H x 5”L x 7”W

A Hare is not a rabbit. While they are related, hares are larger than rabbits, are very fast on the run, do not burrow, and live solitary lives. There is a hare that lives near my home, and I have named him (?) “Jack”. He will stand and watch me, as I watch him from a distance. If I try to get closer, he is gone in a flash, his long ears disappearing into the high grass.

Raccoon

Raccoon - Bronze, edition of 15, 6”H x 11”L x 6”W

Raccoons are one of Nature’s big success stories. Their small size, excellent senses, omnivorous diet, thick coat, and nocturnal habits have allowed them to adapt to the human environment. They are very strong and aggressive, and usually live in family groups, roaming the neighborhood like a street gang. I seldom see them, only their left-overs on garbage day.

Crane

Crane - Bronze, edition of 15, 11.5”H x 6”L x 5”W

With their long necks and long legs, Cranes are the tallest flying bird. After seeing a video of their elaborate courting display, or “dance”, I was inspired to capture the crane’s joyous pose. Too bad I cannot capture the song they sing.