#517 In the studio: new eagle monument

Throughout history,  the eagle is one of the few birds that has been successfully depicted larger than life by sculptors.

Common sense and logic tells the artist and viewer that not all birds should be monumentalized!

The eagle is one of the world's oldest symbols of power, resurrection and victory, and has been a traditional motif for sculptors for centuries . . . it is the symbol of our great nation.

Shown at right, is the small sketch or "maquette" that was
created to use as a guide for my new monument.

Below, are images of a new eagle monument that I started in the studio last month.  The initial drawings and reference have been assembled and a small clay sketch, called a "maquette", was developed and used as the precursor to blocking in the large sculpture design with very dense foam.  Afterwards, the large sculpture is shown being carved with a serrated knife and blocked in from the foam . . . it is then covered with oil-based clay and modeled before a mold is made and bronze casting begins.    The eagle in this sculpture is being presented approximately twice life-sized.

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Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#516 Briscoe Museum: Night of the Artists

The Briscoe Museum is presenting the 13th annual Night of the Artists Art Sale and Exhibitions.
It will be presented in the beautiful Jack Guenther Pavilion at the Briscoe Western Art Museum
and will showcase over 60 of the country's top Western and Wildlife Artists!
The Art Sale will be on Saturday, March 28, 2014.
The sale will be followed by a month-long exhibition from March 30 to April 27.  

The Briscoe Western Art Museum, named in honor of the late Texas Governor,  Dolph Briscoe, Jr. and his wife, Janey, preserves and interprets the art, and culture of the American West through engaging exhibition, educational programs, and public events reflective of the region's rich traditions and shared heritage.

The museum is located on San Antonio's famed River Walk, the institution is housed in San Antonio's first Public Library and newly constructed pavilion.  The Briscoe Campus consists of the historic Museum building, the Jack Guenther Pavilion, and the adjacent McNutt Courtyard & Sculpture Garden.

The Briscoe Western Art Museum preserves and interprets the art, history,and culture of the American West through engaging exhibitions, educational programs, and public events reflective of the region's rich traditions and shared heritage.

Below, are images of my work that will be in the show.

Briscoe Bison Maquette

26"H 37"W 9"D

 Tethered Goats

8"H 26"L 9"D

King of the Coop  

18"H 18"W 7"D

Ed. 65

Retail 4,200

Year of the Horse

16"H 10"W 4"D

Briscoe Briscoe

26"H 19"W 9"D

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Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#515 Throw on another log: Touch

The imprint of an artist's touch cast in bronze on the surface of a sculpture has a living presence, as fingerprints and tool marks are a source of fascination for the viewer.  Run your hands over the surface of a
beautifully modeled sculpture feel the form, see with your hands.

Walk around the sculpture and use your hands and eyes to feel
your way in and out of the shapes.  New forms appear at every
angle - smooth, curved shapes, vigorously modeled passages,
hard edges . . . a source of endless discovery as the sculptor leads
you throughout space, giving you an experience inspired by nature.

One Saturday afternoon at an art show I watched a father take the little hands of his blind daughter and run 

them over the surface of "Charger". . . the sculpture below.  The young girl was touching and seeing the 

animal with her hands as her father guided her.  I watched as the girl focused on what 

she was feeling and realized that she was seeing a horse for the first time.

 Charger

26"H 25"W 9"D

 Nipper

19"H 18"W 12"D

 Standing Horse

12"H 11"W 6"D

Equus Found in clay

Stars

16"H 15"W 6"D

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Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#514 In the field: Briscoe Museum sculpture installation, con't . . .

For more information about the Briscoe Museum project and creation of the monuments in the studio, 

please go to posts #453: Aug. 18, 2013 through #461: Sept. 15, 2013.

We just returned from San Antonio and the installation of the Briscoe Museum of Western Art sculpture project.  
The scope of the work included two life-sized bas-relief bronze horse panels attached to gates and an enormous architectural relief panel depicting three running bison installed in a back-lit niche. . . while the previous post focused on the horse gates, this post focuses on the bison relief panel.

The sculpture design for the twelve foot alcove niche depicts three running bison.
Below, is the initial concept sketch that I presented to Jack Guenther and the Briscoe Museum staff for approval.

After approval of the drawing, a maquette was developed and modeled 40 inches in width.
The maquette, or study, is the precursor to creating a monument and is the artist's guide for creating the monument . . . measurements are taken to resize and enlarge 

Below, are images of the monumental panel being blocked in and carved with dense foam, 
then covered with oil-based clay called plastilene, and modeled.

Below, is an image of the installed monument.

Below, Executive Director,  Dr. Steven Karr and I stand in front of the sculpture.   
 Beautiful landscaping under the alcove was underway by the end of the installation day. 

The enormous panel is installed with stainless steel rods, attached to the back of the sculpture, 
and inserted into the limestone.  It is projected forward and positioned with space between the 
stone and back of the bronze sculpture allowing rheostat-controlled soft lighting from behind . . . 
thus creating a dramatic silhouette of the sculpture.  
Lighting was an important element of my initial concept, design, and proposal.  

Below, is an images of the back-lighting with Jack and Valerie Guenther.

Below, are images of the bronze architectural panel at the foundry during the patina process.

To learn more about the subjects in this blog go to the links below.  
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Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#513 In the field: Briscoe Museum sculpture installation

For more information about the Briscoe Museum project and creation of the monuments, 
please go to posts #453: Aug. 18, 2013 through #461: Sept. 15, 2013.

We just returned from San Antonio and the installation of the Briscoe Museum of Western Art sculpture project.  
The scope of the work included two life-sized bas-relief bronze horse panels attached to gates and an enormous architectural relief panel depicting three running bison installed in a back-lit niche. . . this post focuses on the horse gates. 

The installation concludes a year's work and I consider the commission among my best works. 

Below, I'm with Jessica Elliott and Pam Hannah from the museum

                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                           Image courtesy of Alamo Photographic      

                                                                                                                                                                             Image courtesy of Alamo Photographic

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Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#512 In the News . . . Briscoe Legacy Award

To all who have generously commented on my blog and to those of you who are following:  Thank you!
I have just been made aware of the fact that comments were being received and going unanswered.

#511 In the field . . . deer, con't

Start this series with post # 510, Mar. 5, 2014

Below,  is an early etching entitled, Muley.  This etching was one of the largest, and therefore most difficult to create.

The etching process involves drawing with a needle and tone is achieved with a single-stroke technique.
See the process explained in posts #470 - 476, Oct. 16 - Nov. 6, 2013.

Muley
16" x 12"

Below, is a recent block-in of a whitetail deer, modeled from life from my Wyoming studio window.
I do many quick studies such as this and set them aside for future completion.
Many times, a block-in will set for years on a studio shelf before I return to it.

Below,  is a sculpture entitled Whitetail.  This work is an example of a sculpture created in
one-sitting and cast in bronze.  Typically, I live with a piece before it goes to the foundry to be cast.

Whitetail
12"H 12"W 4"D

Below, are two views of a whitetail deer bronze entitled Swamp Buck.

 Swamp Buck
15"H 13"W 6"D

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Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish

#510 In the field . . . deer

My studio headquarters in Wyoming is located along a tributary of the Wind River and abounds with

many species of wildlife . . . including Mule Deer and Whitetail Deer.  The river turns an abrupt
90 degrees and creates a protective sanctuary for deer and I routinely draw, photograph,
and experience the beautiful creatures.  I never tire of using them as subject matter for my art.

Below, are photographs of deer taken at my Wyoming studio.

I focused on original printmaking during the early years of my career and created many etchings of deer. 

 Over 30 years ago, I decided to take my etchings off the market, store them,
and return them to galleries when I was older and wanted - or needed - to slow down.
The idea was to retire, yet have income from etching sales during the "sunset years"
which I am now experiencing.  Retirement has not been possible because I'm
enjoying the most productive, energized, and creative time in my life.  Taking old etchings
out of storage recently and returning them to galleries has been like visiting old friends.

Below, are a few of the many deer etchings created years ago.

 Button Buck

Doe

 Mule Deer

 High Country

Feels So Good

Running Buck

Whitetail In Snow

To learn more about the subjects in this blog go to the links below.  
For a complete list of the blog index go to the Index Page and 
type the subject in the Search This Blog link on the right.

Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture . . . © Sandy Scott and Trish