Sunday, July 27, 2014

Continuing the American Lion


I basically blocked in the profile of the lion (though everything is on the large side, I always cut wide of the mark coming back later to refine the work.  You can also see the shoulder is too high and needs to be cut down.

After measuring the model I mark where the leg is with a crayon.  I then cut the stone to be removed with a large angle grinder.  The "lines" on the stone are the cut marks left by the grinder.

I have removed some stone around the legs but cut wide and do not finish the legs.  I move to other areas that need to be refined such as the side of the head and neck.  I color these areas in with a black timber crayon.   The view for these areas vary - for the face and neck it is looking straight on at the face, the marking around the chest and foot is from side of the lion.



I use grinders to cut the left leg and paw in and create a lower ledge in the sculpture.  I like using the grinders to form the stone as they leave a clean surface, making the form easier to "read".

I usually start defining a sculpture's head before the rest of the sculpture.  This is how I started carving stone - I worked direct (no model) started at the nose and worked my way back into the stone.

I do continue to refine the rest of the body...

but the head remains the area I spend the most time on.

A view of the back corner before I have started forming the leg.  A lot of stone had to be removed around the shoulder and leg first.  A lot of it's on the ground.  Wheelbarrow is waiting to cart the chunks away. That is my least favorite part of this job, but necessary. 

The marks under the tail and over the foot show me what needs to be removed from this view.  The markings on the shoulder and cheek are areas that need to be removed from the view looking directly at the lions face.

The back leg area is really big- a lot needs to come off....

The tail area has been the least considered, but I'll get to it...

This is a huge number of caterpillars on a Morning Glory vine.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

The Yew Dell Sculpture Show- really late in posting this, only 2 more weeks to see the show....

This sculpture I carved from Alabama Marble, is strapped to the knuckle-boom truck for the trip to Yew Dell Gardens for the 7th Annual Sculpture show. Her name in the show is "Lifting the Veil" but I have since renamed her for th Greek Goddess  Nyx.  She lifts her veil to look at the day and with it truth.


Mike McCarthy unloads "Francis" an over life-size carved limestone head.  There are numerous carved creatures to be discovered in his waving locks.

Music greeted guests at the opening.  In the foreground is work of Bob Lockhart's students which has been carved from soapstone.

This interesting piece in stoneware clay and limestone is entitled "Tri-Part" artist -Robert Pulley

These butterflies, which contrast wonderfully with their limestone bases and greenery behind are entitled "

David Waltz created this wonderful ceramic piece entitled "Expecting".

Karen Cunningham's "Wonky Doodle Dandy" sculpture created from limestone and steel makes a fun statement in the garden.

Shohei Katayama's sculpture entitled "Proximity" is composed of many mirrored discs which revolve, providing an interesting effect.

These two pieces compliment each other nicely. The vibrant, energetic colors of "I Jmpd in a Pil of Livs" by "Beverly Glasscock counterpoint the clean lines of "Morpher" by David Caudill.

Ed Hamilton was the featured artist of this years show. This wonderfully expressive sculpture is entitled "Sailor" is from a Civil War monument dedicated to African Americans who served in the war.

A pair of bronze sculptures entitled "Heaven" and "Earth" by Bob Lockhart.  The sun highlights the interesting folds- the pair is striking in the landscape.

A visitor to the gardens looks at "Phoenix" by Joel Pinkerton.  The sculpture features an acrylic lens.

People gather at the opening next to Karen Terhune's  playful cat sculpture.  It is carved from limestone and entitled "The Kiss"

Fred Millers "Running Legs" (aluminum and steel) make a bold statement on the Yew Dell lawn.

Don Lawler's sculpture "Levitation" combines limestone and neon.  The soft natural color of the stone is contrasted by the vibrant red.

This is my marble sculpture renamed "Nyx lifting the Veil".

This is a skylight amidst sedum in the green roof of Yew Dell's new Green House.