Gallery

I have always found myself drawn to sculpting the human body, whether in a raised hand, or a whole figure.  The figure is both intimate and universal, in the way it conveys intent and emotion, history, injustice, hope, longing or any other combination of thousands of emotions we go through every day as human beings.

I also find that the human form often brings out the strongest reactions from observers.  We quickly relate to figures, whether they are strictly representational or abstract.  We resonate with the silence of the figure, or the position of the hand, or the tilt of the head, because we have been there too.  We see ourselves reflected in the art, sometimes as a matter of hope, or shame, or where we wish we could be, or where we know we will never go back.

This collection is of pieces in various stages of completion. Often, seeing another artists' unfinished pieces can give me an element of visibility into the artist's creative process, a way to understand the twisting path the artist and art take before they reach the final destination where the viewer typically sees it.

In addition to figure work, there are many other themes that I have followed, pathways I have explored.  Some of these are are vessels, or what you would traditionally think of as “pottery” or functional work.  Some are much more along the line of the abstract, or depicting other forms, objects or ideas.  Some are purely whimsical, letting my imagination wander back through the pathways of fantasy and story, remembering what it was like to be a child again.

“Here be Dragons…”

I have been participating in a regular "Drawing from Life" session with Martin Pate, an artist in this area.  This is a collection of drawings mostly from these sessions.  I've found it not only helpful for my drawing, but also as a way to develop a deeper understanding of the figure -- a skill which transfers well to my sculpture work.

One of the things I have learned is to always carry my sketchbook wherever I go.  My sketchbook has become my notebook, journal, a way to remember ideas, a way to reflect the things I see around me.  I am wired as a "visual" thinker, and often experience and learn about the world around me through the use of images.  Having a sketchbook handy at all times allows me to capture those ideas.