The Three Kings
The Three Kings, or Los Reyes Magos, was made as a gift for a relative who lives in Puerto Rico, where Three Kings Day, January 6th, is about as big as Christmas Day. On Three Kings Day kids put out grass before going to sleep for the camels to eat and the Kings leave a little present. The carving depicts the three kings- in Spanish known as Melchor, Gaspar, and Baltasar and has no ties to the bible, so don’t bother looking- took place a couple years after Jesus was born. So all you people putting out manger scenes need to yank the wise men right now to be historically accurate. Oriental, wise, kings… who knows, but don’t let the details do you in. The piece has three figures in “wise man” garb, and three different types of crosses around the outside. The intent was to leave openings in the sides for a candle, but in reality that would have been difficult and would have probably broken. I did make a clay model for this which turned out well and with greater detail which I like better, but I like this one too. 4.5 out of 5 since I couldn’t get the detail I had hoped for.
Limestone, approximately 6” in diameter a 3” high bowl and three 4” figures.
The Chrysler Eagle
This piece is in the style of the eagle gargoyles that are to be found on the Chrysler Building in New York City, one of the coolest buildings you will ever find with its iconic top done up in Art Deco Style. It has metal eagle gargoyles, also done up in Art Deco style that, unfortunately, you can’t see very well from the ground. Everyone “oohs and ahhs” over the Empire State Building, but it is the Chrysler Building that is the pretty one- the Empire State Building is just famous for a fictitious ape. The story of the construction of the two to become at the time the world’s tallest building is an interesting one- look it up! Suffice it to say, the Empire State Building won when they pulled a hail Mary at the end and cheated with a radio tower on top. This eagle shows one of the many eagle styles used on the Chrysler building and was intended for a juried exhibit at the Frederick TAG Gallery this winter, but because it is a “replica” of an existing work it doesn’t qualify for the show. Oh well, I like it anyway. 5 out of 5.
Limestone, 12”L x 8”H x 5.5” W
This piece was a long time coming after I found some oar locks that I liked that would serve well as a support…for something. I also had an idea for inserting large teeth from a serrated piece of metal in the mouth for something- but that didn’t pan out. But the thought of individual teeth, well that was easier and what better than in an angler fish? I’m sure you’ve seen them in the movies and cartoons with its hypnotic light dangling in front of giant teeth- scary fish. So that’s how he came about and his teeth are no less sharp so don’t be sticking your hand in there. Only one small issue that I will not identify! but I love the polished black eyes to go with the teeth. This one also goes to the TAG Art Show in August- and if it doesn’t sell, then who knows? A little to nice to be leaving on Carroll Creek.
Limestone, wrought steel teeth, soapstone light, mahogany base, and brass oarlock, approximately 12”X14”x8”.
Update! Sold at TAG this past August 2024.
The Angler Fish.
Mark V Diving Helmet for Pat.
Well that’s an odd subject for a sculptor, rather technical you might say? What next, a Chevy V-8 engine? Maybe, who’s to say? Actually this Mark V diving helmet, developed for the Navy way back in 1943 and not so recently still in use, is for my brother, Pat. He is a former underwater construction diver for the Navy and wanted something for his front yard to compete with the various flamingos and geese in his retirement community. So there you go. It was a highly technical piece done to about 3/4 scale, lots of measuring from the original blueprints. I mainly got it right, messed up in a few places that I will never call out, but all in all it turned out well after about 4 months of work.
Approximately 17”h x 13”w x 10”d and super heavy.
Love. It’s Complicated.
This sculpture presents itself from the front as the typical Cupid’s heart that we all know and love, I even made a nice brass arrowhead in the shape of a heart, just like in all the Cupid’s arrow depictions. On the reverse, though, is the ugly truth, love is far more complicated and messy than anyone can imagine. Splotchy, tangled, complicated, sometimes a mess. But who wants to be without it?
This is a bit of a departure in the adding of the brass arrow, but I think it turned out well. How did I manage to get a completely messed up arrow through the stone? Meh, don’t let the details bog you down.
Made from Silverdale limestone with something or other running through it. About 12”H, 8”W, 4”D.
The Bull.
This was intended as a low relief, but when I split the stone there was a big lump in the center of the rock- and so it became the head of the bull. His head protrudes from the face of the stone as a result, which I think is a nice look. This was a new format for me, not being in the round and dealing with foreshortening, but I was pleased with the outcome. If you’ve ever been to a bullfight, the bull enters the ring from a passageway in the ring, he’s agitated, confused, and mad. That is until all those people start jabbing colorful arrows into it’s back, then he’s super mad. But we got him there just as he’s coming out, just like in the Bugs Bunny cartoon. If you know, you know.
More Silverdale limestone (it’s like I got a good deal on the stone or something.) It had some funkiness in the stone in the top, but thankfully none in the bull. His eyes are a black stone who’s name I don’t know. About 12”W, 8”H, 3”D.
The Loudmouth (alternatively, The Politician).
The Politician began as a bit of a cartoony project. I had some old cuckoo clock parts and I wanted to incorporate them into the piece. He is essentially a big mouth with bad hair (and bares a passing resemblance to a local politician!). If you hit the spring in his mouth you can make him chime. His eyes spin too, being clock gears set into some bearings so they spin freely. A lot of noise and action that ultimately signifies nuthin’. Just like a politician.
Surprisingly, it won Best In Show at the District Arts Gallery here in Frederick in October 2023! Did not expect that, but I am happy about it!
Indiana limestone, brass gears, and a steel spring, about 10”H, 10”W, 4”D.
Noah’s Ark.
This was a long time in the making. I had originally started on a Noah’s Ark a few years ago but the boat split from the sea- not exactly biblical. So I thought I’d try again. The inspiration came from a sculptor named William Edmondson and his sculpture of the same name, and as I re-look at his work I can see a lot of influence in mine. Huh. Anyway, this is by far the heaviest piece if nothing else, depicting a stylized ark on heavy seas. While you can’t see it here, some sea serpents also circle the ark (make of them what you will- if you don’t like them as not being accurate to the story, well, go make your own ark.) A serpent is depicted on the base as well, and on the reverse are two archaic dolphins. I originally intended for tiny brass giraffes to pierce the roof, but in the end that seemed a bit much so no giraffes. They are inside.
Indian limestone, about 14”W, 12”H, 12”D. And check out Mr. Edmondson’s work at the address below:
(https://americanart.si.edu/artist/william-edmondson-1408.)
The Sea Turtle.
Maybe my favorite of everything so far. This was made at the request of my brother-in-law on the occasion of he and my sister moving to Florida. It represents a relatively young sea turtle and was done in a realistic style, right down to the creasing on the shell and his head. Seen from above it looks like he is gliding over the sandy sea bottom. He did take a while to sculpt though, trying to get all those details just so.
Indiana limestone, 14”W,8”H,10”W. Also super heavy.
The Geometric Rabbit
The Geometric Rabbit is up there in my list of favorites (they’re like your children, you like some more then others…yes you do!) I wanted to pare down the rabbit into some general geometric shapes to give the sense of the rabbit, if not necessarily look all bunny-like. The inspiration for the piece comes from after seeing the work of Josep Maria Suribachs, a Spanish sculptor who did the numerous sculptures on the façade of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain. Don’t know it? Look it up! You’ll either love it or hate it. I loved it, my wife hated it. What does she know. While the Sagrada Familia is full of gigantic scenes from the New Testament, I have a harmless little bunny, who I think is cool. And one of these days I’ll make him a friend…
And another photo of Geo Bunny at rest at home in his new house in Connecticut. Pretty comfortable I’d say.
Limestone, 12”H, 6”W, 4”D.
Ken’s Cock.
Get your mind out of the gutter, it’s a rooster. Not a fowl of any particular type, so I guess he is an amalgamation of different types (hey, I’m no farmer). He was made as a gift to a friend who had lost several chickens to a hawk, so we made a rooster scarecrow of sorts, though he’s not gonna scare any hawk away unless you throw it at him- and you won’t do that because he’s pretty heavy too. Depicting feathers was not easy, so I tried to concentrate on the rooster’s tail.
Limestone, about 12”L, 8”H, 6”W.
Springtime in the Park for Steve.
Somebody brought a dachshund into the shop named Steve. I thought Steve was a pretty good name for a dachshund, and I thought it would make a pretty good sculpture too. I went representational here, leaving out the fine details- if you want a perfect replica of a dachshund go to the animal shelter. I wanted to capture the happy dog out to play. Unfortunately the picture here doesn’t show his tail! I worked hours on that tail to separate it from the body and curl back… you’ll just have to imagine it. And the title? I dunno, seemed to fit.
Elephant No. 2
Elephant No. 2 (because there is also an Elephant No. 1) was my attempt to get as much representation out of the figure as I could whilst removing the least amount of stone from the block. My inspiration for the piece was the sculptor Constantin Brancusi, and while you may not have heard the name you may have seen the sculpture. Unfortunately, after I completed it and was so happy with it, my wife said she didn’t like it because it looks like the Republican mascot. And I have to admit, yes it does. So if there’s any Republican out there who wants an elephant carving…
Limestone, about 12”H, 8”W, 6”D. And a moderate.
A picture of Brancusi’s “The Kiss” is there to give you an idea.
The Fool.
The Fool was an attempt to introduce a little mixed media into the picture, the copper bells. I thought I had bought bigger bells, but the turned out kind of small so I bundled them together. He’s wearing a typical fool’s hat, textured to appear woolen, and a big wide mouth laughing loudly- I even added a uvula in there for realism. This was a fun piece, but at the time I had no grinding tools and attempted the hat with hammer and chisel- with a LOT of breakage.
Limestone, about 16”H, 6”W,6”D
Elephant No. 1.
Elephant No. 1, being my first attempt at an elephant, had some issues right off the bat. Another piece where I was attempting to break things down into shapes and planes rather than an accurate representation, as I was trimming the bottom to get the 4 legs to sit flush together I went too far on the front left leg. That makes for a wobbly elephant. But then I got the idea to support that corner with the trunk. The elephant is lifting up the leg like there is something stuck on his foot and he’s checking it out with his trunk. Good save, right?
About 12”L, 8”H. 6”W.
Powerhouse.
With Powerhouse I wanted to represent a sense of power and machinery, yet still show the smooth shininess of a polished hood of a 50s style car with a hood ornament inspired by the one that was on my 1950 Dodge truck. The stone, which I think is actually a softer sandstone, actually polished up well and was a surprisingly tannish color. I wanted to do some fairly detailed gears with symmetry and pierce the stone all the way through leaving a fairly good sized hole. To give it a little more stability I placed it on a piece of black walnut at a slight plane to give more of a semblance of motion and movement with a Corvette-like swoosh detail. Definitely think of and being inspired by some of the Futurist paintings of trains and airplanes from the 20s (not the sculptures, which are lacking and the few I’ve seen I didn’t care for.) It’s actually named for Raymond Scott’s composition “Powerhouse”. You know it, you just don’t know you know it. If you’ve ever watched a Bugs Bunny cartoon, it is the music used whenever some mechanical contraption was set into motion. Overall I like it, but in retrospect I would have left out the brass pieces.
Bertha.
My grandmother, Bertha. This was from a piece of scrap stone obtained from Ranier Devido Stone Company in Pennsylvania, who uses a lot of Indiana limestone. From several pictures of grandma from the late 1950s and early 60s, I modeled her in a heavy coat with fur collar and a fashionable wide hat and rubber boots. The intent was capture not only a stout woman, but a strong and stern one as well, but not an unloving one. Moderately happy with this piece, though there are things I don’t like. The stone has been placed next to her gravestone at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Ashtabula, Ohio, hopefully nobody will walk off with it. What kind of a person would steal from a graveyard?
Death Mask.
This was made in tribute to my grandfather, Michael, whom I never met but heard many awful stories about him from my grandmother (see Bertha above.) It was made from a salvaged window sill made of lime stone. This started out as Noah’s Ark, believe it or not, but banging on the stone too hard broke the cabin part of the boat off leaving only the hull. So no Noah’s Ark (but that was resurrected later as seen above.) With the relatively flat stone left, I decided to try a human face. Since the stone was relatively shallow I could only get the facial features. I initially started with just a generic face- nothing too exact, only representational. As I went along, I decided to go with the picture of my grandfather in his casket in 1952 (he died young- why we have the picture of that is another story.) But I didn’t have the photo, only the memory from when I was 13 of seeing the photo. So I went with doing the best nose of my father and winging the rest, again, only representational and not trying for a true representation. The eyes are big as the most striking part of the photo was his darken circled eyes. The mouth on one side curls down, but on the other side curls up in a slight smile, having finally been done with my grandmother and for still being remembered some 70 years later. I placed it on a wooden base giving it a slight tilt up, as if in a coffin.
Backwards Dog.
This was also made from the salvaged limestone sill I picked up at the Second Chance Store in Baltimore, a very fine grained grey stone the likes of which I can’t find more. Because the sill was rather narrow, only about 8” square, I cut it at an angle to get the most width and height from the stone. I also made the dog looking backwards because the stone was so narrow. I tried to approach the form not so much as trying to make a perfect representation of a dog (which is impossible- just get a dog) I instead went for a more representational approach trying to minimalize the finer details to project the general shape of the dog. I also started experimenting with planes and surfaces in lieu of rounded smooth shapes, which follows in subsequent work. It shouldn’t so much look like a dog as feel like a dog. This was aided by the fact that as I was carving the snout, a portion of the stone cleaved off unexpectedly, and yet left a very good shape for the nose- so I went with it. Yes, that’s probably lead paint on the base- deal with it. I wanted to leave some portion of the original stone sill to show what it was once. This has been designated to sit in front of my headstone someday.