12/18/13
What a rush! -Pottery!
You're talking to a guy who hasn't made a pot for nearly 2 years, let alone a matching set. I've lost alot of skill since my days at Eckel's Pottery, but I can still throw the clay.
You can see the results of my "rush" by clicking the image here. The cool thing is that after only 3 "warm-up" cups and three "warm-up" bowls, the rest are what you see.
12/17/13
While waiting for pots and silicone mold material to dry I made a little drawing of Santa. Lately I've been running around so much and so fast that I feel like my hair is blowing in the wind.
Wait-- What hair?
12/14/13
The sculpting part of our Nativity Angel is finished. Next we prepare it for molding and casting; which involves molding each hand separately. I'll probably post some pics of that process later so check back again next week for more.
12/6/13
Gabriel's due date. Would have been his Birthday today. Even though we didn't get a chance to know him we still miss him so. We'll never stop wondering what he could have done and who he would have become.
We miss you Gabriel
12/3/13
Happy Birthday to my Mom and my twin brothers-in-law, Jeff and Joe!
I'm enjoying the angel theme lately. Another Angel is in progress with a completion date before Christmas. This sculpt is a replacement for the Nativity Angel at church that shattered last year as they were taking the Christmas Decorations down.
12/1/13
Alright, I'm tired of not being able to find my "List of Stuff I'd Like to Get". So here's a link. Now maybe I'll be able to find it when I want to sit and "wish". - - AND, if any of you loyal readers are interested in spending some money on a poor sculptor, You'll know exactly what to get. :)
11/25/13
This tiny sculpt was done as part of a two person Call to Duty where the Firefighter is consoling a Police officer who lost a comrade.
Click the image here to see some pictures.
11/23/13
Wings!
The wings are roughly shaped now. Next comes hours and hours of feather sculpting. But we have to get a few other commissions done first. Check back again, --Details to come in the future.
11/21/13
Quinn wondered what she was going to bring for Sharing today and I suggested a drawing of one of her toys. She brought her favorite stuffed animal down and, while eating breakfast, I drew him for her. She brought both to school with her today.
Click the image here to see the drawing.
11/12/13
The Final Four
I received an order for some 6-inch St. Gertrude statues this month. I thought I'd make a half dozen or so but as I started casting I found that the silicone mold was not aligning correctly in the mother mold. That causes the resin to leak out and adhere to the mother mold. Which, intern, fused the mold parts together.
In order to get the piece out, the mold had to be broken open. I repaired it once but had to break it again for the final cast. It is beyond repair now so if anyone wants more little St. Gertrude statues, it'll require re-sculpting the statue, making another mold and casting again.
All good things must come to an end.
11/4/13
After a day of cleaning and organizing and a severe lack of sculpting, I just had to make something. I tell my kids that they have to do something "real". Meaning they have to put the ipods/ipads/computers/vid games away and make something or do something that they can see at the end of the day and feel good about. I need to do that too and since sometimes sculpting takes a lot of time to see any accomplishment, I practiced a drawing tonight. The little lady you see here is the result.
No, it's not something "real", but by posting it here, it feels a little more real.
10/26/13
Note to self: BACKUP YOUR STUFF!
Note to others: If you haven't backed up the important things on your computer/ipad/phone/whatever, do so. It'll save you TONS of time someday. Guaranteed!
10/25/13
More news on the Gabriel Memorial: The face has been modified slightly and fit back onto the body. At this point I'm thinking about different treatments for the trumpet he's holding. No spoilers here. You'll have to come back later to see those thoughts realized.
On a completely different note: Only two months until Christmas! (I love doing that to my kids-- Get them excited for something when it's still quite far away.)
10/21/13
I had to put the Angel on hold for a while as the second Call To Duty sculpture suddenly became "important". It's not finished but getting there.
10/9/13
Slowly the Gabriel Memorial is coming together. Click the image here to see an actual-size photo of the face taking shape.
9/16/13
I was commissioned to do this portrait for a two-thirds life size memorial statue to be cast in bronze next month. Andrew's Mother commissioned this portrait and I pray that it brings solace to her and those who mourn for him.
9/7/13
Drapery!!!
9/5/13
It is SOOOO fun to play with clay again!!! Some progress has been made on the Gabriel Memorial. Click the image for a more detailed shot.
9/3/13
The last few weeks have been devoted to developing curriculum for my new job as Atwater Elementary's Art Specialist. As I did at LHS, project ideas and examples are posted in the form of a website so parents can see what we are doing in class and how it relates to Minnesota's Fine Art Standards or other areas of their child's learning.
Click the image here to visit the site. (And if you're using a computer, be sure to mouse over the ART button on that site's banner.) So far I've only posted a few projects but as the year progresses each project we do will be posted along with student examples.
8/31/13
A Full week of Teacher Workshops at ACGC is complete. But my classroom isn't ready yet. Another couple days of cleaning and organizing is needed to get that place into the shape I'd like for my elementary art students.
The image you see here (Click for a large version in a new window) is a drawing I made for my art room door. The lower sides are left empty so my students can draw on it as a reward for good behavior.
8/14/13
A sneak peek at our Angel Gabriel Memorial statue. I'm working up rough musculature so that when drapery is added the body's form can still be seen in places.
An entirely different project is simultaneously being worked on but that project, a website, will be blogged when it's up and running "live" so keep in touch and check back again soon.
8/2/13
Haven't done much drawing lately but a lull in the paid sculpture commissions allowed for a little "Quick Card Making" to happen. Click the image here to see the results of a couple day's pencil work.
7/19/13
A small update today. Finished the quick sculpt, "Anguish" yesterday. Hollowed out and ready to fire. Not sure of the final patina so check back in a few weeks to see how I've colored it.
7/16/13
Anguish. Heartache. Torment. Misery. Sorrow. Despair. The sculptures and paintings done lately (Cry -- Call to Duty -- Anguish) have captured our lives so poignantly. It's hard to imagine saying more than the art says on it's own.
Our little baby was "delivered" today. I'm beyond sad. True Heartbreak.
7/15/13
Sometimes I wonder why I don't paint instead of sculpt. A painting can be done in an hour, (as evidenced by the one here) while most sculptures take days. I guess the reason I sculpt is because people actually pay for my sculptural work.
It should not have been such a sad day today. It's Karen's birthday but we found out that we lost our baby. Saturday we went to the emergency room because she was bleeding. They found a heartbeat and said we should take it easy until Monday when they could do a real ultrasound. Today there was no heartbeat. This painting is in reaction to my anguish.
7/4/13
Here's another commission for Brodin Studios. A half life-size mourning police officer titled, Call to Duty.
This work represents the loss felt at the passing of a colleague in the line of duty. But as I've been working, it has come to symbolize my recent emotional state. (see the 6/10 posting below).
It seems that this art therapy is helping, however, because I'm feeling more at ease than I have for some time now.
6/27/13
Our latest project for Brodin Studios is a 9-inch version of their protector statue.
Click here to see our piece.
6/10/13
I don't often blog about personal stuff but today is different. Over the last 3 weeks or so, I've been so sad. One of the many reasons for it, I'm guessing, is the fact that for 20 years I've had the wonderful opportunity to NOT work during the summer. Teachers have it nice in that regard. Now, after retiring from teaching at LHS last year, I'm working a normal job like everyone else and missing the "summer vacation" that came with the teaching profession.
"Anguish" represents this sad emotional state.
When I was in college I'd draw out my emotions with Pencil and Paper. Yesterday I thought I'd do the same but with sculpture. Art Therapy it is, and it usually works wonders.
6/1/13
The Boy from the Fort Hood group is getting finished as we speak. I modeled the girl after my girl, Therese, and the boy after my boy Theo. Although they weren't straight portraits, you can certainly see the resemblance if you know those two kids.
Click the image here to see the latest.
5/27/13
Between a bout of stomach flu and working the "other" job, I had some time to work on the little girl of the Fort Hood group.
Click the image here to see the little girl.
5/12/13
Posted a couple more pics of the woman from our Fort Hood project. You could say there's a love note for each of you in this picture. Click the heart here for more.
It's funny how I hate being up high on ladders but for this project I've been working on a ladder for the last week and a half. Finishing the woman's hair, working on the baby face and tweaking the focus of the eyes. The next two sculpts are only about 6 ft tall so that'll be a nice break from the extreme ladder issues I have.
5/5/13
Over the past month the Fort Hood project has progressed nicely. Click the image here to see our progress. As always, I've been personally responsible for the heads, hands, and feet of each 9-foot tall statue. I've also been able to do various other details as needed.
It's quite an honor to be part of such a prestigious project.
4/21/13
The concordia mural was installed this weekend. I didn't get to sculpt much other than the two figures and potatoes but it was fun working with Brad again. And it's always great to be a part of a large impressive project.
3/23/13
Weekdays are spent working on the large Fort Hood figures and weekends are spent in Fargo working on the Condordia College mural. It has been a busy life lately but these sculpting jobs are fun and rewarding.
Click the image here to see the progress.
And now I'm off to continue this work with Brad in Fargo…
3/13/13
A new pope has been chosen but as I write this we don't know who it is yet.
While you're waiting, take a look at the latest pictures of the full size Fort Hood project. Click the image here.
3/8/13
Permission was granted to post pictures of the large Fort Hood project we've been working on for the last couple months. Click here. The January 29th entry below explains it a little. We're currently working on the 9 ft tall figures. We'll have more pics on that page soon.
This weekend I'm going to Fargo to start another large clay mural project with Brad Bachmeier. You can see a preliminary sketch here.
3/7/13
To clarify, I was up at 6 am yesterday because two little girls were talking when they should have been sleeping. It's 2:30 AM now and, yes, it's time for bed. Just finished the hands and head for the Fort Hood, Texas project. Gotta be at the studio to fit the head and hands on the soldier at 8 am tomorrow. (actually, today.) Maybe I can get some sleep tomorrow night.
Saturday I start another clay mural with Brad Bachmeier. This will be our fourth large 3-d mural. You can view the others by clicking here.
3/5/13
2:00 AM and I'm just going to bed now. Gotta get the hands and head done for our 9 ft soldier. Sleep is over rated, isn't it? Riiiiiiigghhht. If I didn't need health insurance I'd quit my job and do this art thing full time. Since it actually is full time already.
I'll be up again at 6:30 to talk to my kids before they go off to school.
1/29/13
Ray's portrait was finished at Christmas but I haven't put final pictures up until today. Click the image for the latest.
It has been a busy few weeks here. Brodin Studios commissioned 6-inch maquettes for a large, 9-foot tall group of figures. Now I'm finishing up 18-inch versions that are laser-scanned and enlarged to the full-size statues. Until the project is finished this summer I'm afraid I can't show pictures here. --Thus, the dearth of images lately.
1/1/13
Happy New Year!
The finished patina has been added to Jenna's portrait. Click the image here (…and scroll down on the page that appears) to see the bright gold/bronze color.
It was a cold day out but the ice rink close by has a nice little warming house so Theo, Anissa, Therese and I went skating today. it was fun to see them improve while we were there. Karen brought some old skates back from her parents place this Christmas. The kids were excited to try them out. We all had a great time and now they're all tired out and sleeping.
