“The observation of nature is part of an artist’s life, it enlarges his form and knowledge, keeps him fresh and from working only by formula, and feeds inspiration.”
Henry Moore
My work derives from a strong background in human anatomy aand lifelong study of organic form. While my sculpture is not always suggestive of the human figure, it invariably has anthropomorphic aspiration, and many of my sculptural ideas have originated from objects found in nature to which I give a human quality. The design of this work comes from a natural form removed from its context, and transformed by drawings and three-dimensional imaging into a form with new meaning. Considerable time is spent in the development of a virtual sculpture, which gives me a vivid understanding of the form. Then, the physical carving continues the creative process, of course, ever to be modified by the whims of the material.
I use stone or hardwood to carve the long flowing curves with strong edges and negative space that often characterize my work. Carving begins with a two-dimensional approach to the stone in which two planes of the created image (separated by 90 degrees) are extruded from the material. Defining lines are laid out on each plane and ‘joined in space’ to become the foundation of the work. Then, carving progresses to a definitive three-dimensional state of the sculpture in a stone/sculptor collaboration.
Rough to smooth finishing of the carved work is an integral part of my process. It allows me to give the final stone surface a glowing luster that adds a tactile dimension and invites touching.
My studio is located in the foothills of the Manzano Mountains above Albuquerque, NM. This area has proven to be a treasure trove for found objects and rock formations. I continually search for objects in their natural environment, and am initially attracted to something by a shape visualized within it. A shape within a shape is extracted from both its surroundings and its context, and may become a model for the design of a new small work.