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"Communication is such an important part of the artist in
creating a visual sense as well as stimulating the viewer’s
tactile reflexes. Sculpture hopefully, can stimulate those
feelings by the forms and also the medium."
I like to feel my function as a sculptor is
to try to convey the elements of emotions and visualization to
the viewer. Trying to work with space both positive and negative
is always a challenge. I feel the negative space in sculpture
can almost give the same effect as a positive form. Because I
prefer to work abstractly or non-objective; I look at the
negative space in some pieces as the soul and energy of the
sculpture.
Most of my work has been influenced by the
female figure, there is a feeling I get from the feminine form
that translates so well to sculpture.
Many times when I start to carve on a stone
the mental image of the piece is already completed. I then begin
the process of having the piece evolve. My approach to carving
is very traditional. I start with a drawing, or on some projects
I use a maquette to work from. Only using a hammer and various
chisels the creativeness begins, eventually refining the forms
with rasps and various grades of sandpaper and finishing with a
marble polish. This process brings out the beautiful color and
striations of the stone. The stones that I carve are from all
parts of the world, and it is so exciting to see the results of
what was the earthly metamorphic process.
I enjoy the freedom my medium gives me for
expression. My rewards are not only the finished sculpture, but
the rhythm of carving is the experience of pure joy.
The additional pleasure of seeing my
finished piece is to see the viewer enjoy the tactile feeling of
the sculpture.
Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975)
was a sculptor for whom I had a great deal of
respect. She once said “Sculpture communicates an immediate
sense of life; you can feel the pulse of it. In sculpture we
have a complete orientation of body and mind”. How fortunate to
be able to have that experience.
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