#193 Leaving Arizona, con't . . .

Spring is here!  Spring arrived last Tuesday and Trish and I are leaving Arizona for the Lander, Wyoming studio headquarters.  Spring arrives late in Wyoming but the season of regrowth, renewal, and rebirth is welcome.

Springtime in the Rockies is beautiful.  As the days lengthen, I look forward to tramping the woods and trails, exploring the streams and lakes in my ongoing search for studio reference material.  The increased activity of birds and animals during this time of year is stimulating and exciting.

Now Nature hangs her mantle green

On every blooming tree,

And spreads her sheet o' daisies white

Out o're the grassy lea.

                                       - Robert Burns

Spring Pride

6"H 11"W 8"D

#192 Leaving Arizona

Leaving Arizona is always difficult but spring is here and a great deal of studio and field work is waiting in Wyoming and beyond.  Shown is a peregrine falcon sculpture I created last year while artist in residence in the Sedona area. I've included images of my time here in 2012: An Arizona scrapbook.

I must see new things and investigate them.

I want to taste dark water and see crackling trees and wild winds.

                                                                                - Egon Schiele

Falcon Heart Humming

20"H 20"W 16"D

#188 In the studio: Leaving Arizona

Next week we will pack and leave the Arizona studio.  Every year I escape the harsh
Wyoming winter by headquartering in the beautiful Oak Creek area south of Sedona.
It's been a productive time but spring begins next Tuesday and I'll be migrating north
with the birds.  I'll miss my daily walks and photo sessions along the Oak Creek trail,
but I also miss the Wind River Mountain Range and the Popo Agie River that runs by
my Wyoming studio.

Below is a recent clay block in of a Great Blue Heron in progress.  One of my goals
while in Arizona this year was to experience the magnificent bird in the wild and collect reference material. Mission accomplished!  At right is the Oak Creek trail in winter.

#183 In the field: Great Blue Heron

I plan to start a new sculpture study of the Great Blue Heron before leaving Arizona.  The bird is abundant along Oak Creek and I routinely see and photograph the magnificent creature on my daily walks.

Typically, I spend far more time researching and studying a subject before I approach the sculpture stand to build the armature, construct, design and model the piece.

At right, Oak Creek, south of Sedona, Arizona in late winter.

#182 In the field: Up the creek - in search of birds con't . . .

Recently we rode horses on a remote trail along Oak Creek (see yesterday's blog)
in search of birds.  We were not disappointed!  Gambel's Quail, Roadrunners, Eagles,
Hawks and a variety of waterfowl including the abundant Great Blue Heron were sighted.

Left, looking up, Trish spots a Great Blue Heron in flight.  Over the past few weeks I've experienced the great bird often on my daily walks along the creek and am under the
influence of the creature.

#181 In the field: Up the creek - In search of birds

Last week we rode horses on a remote trail along Oak Creek south of Sedona.  At various times of the year over 340 of the 900 plus species of birds found in the United States can be seen in the bird-rich riparian zones of Oak Creek and the Verde Valley.  The Northern Arizona Audubon Society has identified these areas as IBAs or Important Birding Areas.

At left, I'm packing cameras for the ride down to Oak Creek. We saw many birds on our field trip, including a beautiful Wood Duck drake at ease in the creek.

Orginal etching by Sandy Scott

5 1/2 x 9 1/4

Note: The etching link from sandyscott.com is being redesigned and is temporarily offline

#162 In the field: Sedona birds and wildlife con't . . .

Winter along Oak Creek south of Sedona

Oak Creek flows through a spectacular canyon and is buffered by lush forest north of Sedona and massive cottonwoods to the south.  Trish and I are both avid fishing enthusiasts and when in Sedona, we are headquartered on the beautiful stream, within casting distance of winter trout fishing.  Rainbows and Brown Trout can be caught on dry flies or spinners.

The decorative sculpture shown below was patinaed with natural chemicals and dyes.  After cooling, I hand-painted the spots.

Everything in nature invites us constantly to be what we are.

                                                          - Gretel Eurlich

Functional art:  Creel Hook by Sandy Scott
11"H 9"W 4"D

#161 In the field: Sedona birds and wildlife con't . . .

The Verde Valley, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon (scroll to Blog #158 & #159) is a hotspot for birders with over 340 species at various times of the year.  As a bird artist, I'm in my element in the region.

Waterfowl, eagles, herons, hawks and hummingbirds to name a few . . . the list goes on and on.  Last week I saw a magnificent bald eagle along Oak Creek.

The American Bald Eagle has been and remains a favorite subject and motif
for my art: both sculpture and etchings.

Recently installed - Descending Eagle Monument  - 22 ' wingspan
For more information click on August, 2011 -  Blog #16

#160 In the field: Sedona birds and wildlife con't . . .

The Sedona area is magic.  The elevation changes from high desert at 3000 feet to cool pine at 8000 feet.  The wildlife-rich riparian zones of Oak Creek offer a diverse paradise for wildlife, birds and wildlife artists.  

Like most places, the presence of nocturnal creatures such as the raccoon is part of the life it nourishes.

The etching below was created in the late 70's and was wildly popular.  I was pleasantly surprised that the edition of 100 sold out quickly.  A few of the artist's proofs are still available.

Raccoon 

Original etching by Sandy Scott

11 3/4 x 7 3/4 

Note: The etching link from sandyscott.com is being redesigned and is temporarily offline

#159 In the field: Sedona birds and wildlife con't . . .

The Raven, renowned in Native American tribal lore as a trickster and bird with a mischievous nature, is  common along the Oak Creek trail (see yesterdays Blog) and is one of my favorite subjects. The imposing, oily-black bird is larger than the crow, has a thicker bill and has a distinctive crocking call.  The dramatic corvid can be identified in flight by its wedge-shaped tail.

When I'm on the trail, photographing, observing and gathering studio reference, I usually find a quiet place to sit and keep my eyes and ears open:  I'm guaranteed to see something new and exciting.

What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore 

 Meant in croaking 'Nevermore'.

-Edgar Allan Poe;  The Raven   

Ravenrock
18"H 

#158 In the field: Sedona birds and wildlife

While in residence in Sedona, mornings and evenings are spent on a secluded trail along beautiful Oak Creek. The trail splits
and while Trish takes the dogs for a romp across an open field,
I spend time stalking, observing, sketching and photographing birds and wildlife along the Oak Creek trail.

Oak Creek is part of the Verde Valley watershed and attracts over a third of the 900 plus species of birds in the United States. Wintering species includes waterfowl which is one of my favorite subjects for both sculpture and etchings.

Seeing birds and animals first-hand, in their environment and being there is vital to the wildlife artist.

Mallards Coming In
9 3/4 x 91/4
Original etching by SandyScott

Note: The etching link from sandyscott.com is being redesigned and is temporarily offline

#157 In the field: Artist in residence

Adele, Susan and Trish

Beautiful Sedona, Arizona is situated along Oak Creek and is surrounded by spectacular Red Rock Country.  It is home to many artists, writers, galleries as well as art and nature lovers.

Although most of my time is spent working, I always find the time to enjoy the company of my artist friends who call Sedona home. Trish and I shared dinner with painters, Adele Earnshaw (a New Zealander and 35 year Sedona resident) and Susan Faust this week and as usual, the lively conversation revolved around art. Adele conducts workshops in New Zealand and you will love her Blog. adeleearnshaw.blogspot.com,

Sandy and Trish - Red Rock Country from restaurant window

Children, like animals, use all their senses 

to discover the world.  

Then artists come along and discover 

it the same way all over again.

                           

                                   -Eudora Welty  

"Arizona Sunrise" in clay was modeled last year while
artist in residence at Mountain Trails Gallery in Sedona

#156 In the field: Full Moon, Snow Moon

February full moon close to Wickenburg, AZ 

Full moon last night.  Northerly Native American tribes called the February Moon the Snow Moon. Some tribes called it the Hunger Moon or Storm Moon when food could be scarce and the weather foul.

There is snow north of me and beyond but not where I am this month. Every year I spend several weeks in Arizona; attending art shows, teaching workshops, in the field and as artist in residence at the gallery that represents me in Sedona.

I headquarter in Sedona along beautiful Oak Creek and spent yesterday in the field - photographing and observing ducks and other birds.  The highlight of the field trip occurred when a canvasback hen and drake floated past me with the current accompanied by a widgeon hen.

 A diving duck with two dabbling ducks is an unusual sight here.  Typically, divers like big water.

Canvasbacks Coming In  7 x 5
Backcover of Gray's Sporting Journal
Original etching by Sandy Scott

Note: The etching link from sandyscott.com is being redesigned and is temporarily offline