#640 The pond, con't . . . Geese - domestic and wild

Please see the previous two posts for more information about the pond at the Wyoming studio.

Domestic geese have historically been kept as poultry for their eggs, meat, and down.  We currently have nine that we keep because they are beautiful on our pond, they're efficient "lawnmowers" and are alert "watchdogs".  
Although they're messy when they get on the deck, - as shown below - they have become a part of our life.

Due to their upright posture, their large, heavy body, short wings, and much of their weight being aft in spite of 
their large, meaty breasts . . . domestics are flightless.  Below, are images of our geese.

A few years ago we only had four domestics and what you see below, happened.
We try to prevent more breeding and I'll keep you posted about the outcome.

The domestics routinely interact with the wild Canada Geese on the pond during spring and summer when
 the wild ones are here to nest and raise their young.  While I don't understand the dynamics, 
the Canadas always win and keep the larger domestics away from their young.

Below, are images of the two different species on the pond. 

Below, is an early watercolor tinted etching of domestic geese . . . created in 1978.

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

#639 Wyoming studio, the pond . . . con't: Canada Geese

Please see the previous post for more information about our pond at the Wyoming studio.

Below, is an image of John James Audubon's lithograph of Canada Geese.

Canada Geese return to our pond every spring to nest, breed, molt, and raise their young.

Typically, the same pair return year after year to where they previously nested and found a safe haven.

They find shelter on secluded ponds like ours which provide security from predators.  This year, we have two different mated pair of Canadas who are raising their young on the pond's island and the surrounding fringe cover. 

While the two families don't interact much, below is a image of the two mated pair with their young taken this morning.

When Canada Geese molt, they lose their primary flight feathers in early summer and become flightless until new feathers grow in about mid-August.  Being flightless is nature's way of causing the pair to breed and stay with their young . . .  

protecting them from harm and teaching them to fly at the end of summer, away from the frigid Wyoming winter.
Most large birds like Canada Geese mate for life and it's a thrill to hear them arrive at our pond every spring.

There's a fascinating website about the molt and migration entitled:   www. geesepeace.com

Below, is a photo of primary flight feathers at the edge of our pond . . . evidence of the molt.

Also shown, is a drawing of a wing showing the primary flight feathers that will molt and quickly grow back again.

There's an old cabin next to the pond where we throw out a scoop of corn for the geese.
Below, a Mule Deer doe walked into view as the geese waited for their corn this morning.

Below, are additional images of the Canada Geese on our pond with their young.

Note:  Canada Geese have long been a favorite subject for my art, both etchings and sculpture. . .
I named the book about my work - "Spirit of the Wild Things",  published in 1998 -  after an early
monumental sculpture depicting Canada Geese with the same title.


Below, is an image of the above mentioned monument, an image of the book cover, and a link to the book -
"Spirit of the Wild Things - the Art of Sandy Scott".   The book is still available for purchase.

http://www.SpiritOfTheWildThings

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

#137 In the studio: painting . . .

The painting studio is separate from the sculpture studios, 

is situated along the Popo Agie River and has beautiful north light.  It is a delightful room and although I don't have time to paint as much as I'd like to, painting was part of my training at the Kansas City Art Institute when I was young. 

Painting is a great diversion from sculpture which at times can be physically demanding - especially monuments.

Over the past fifty years I have returned to it from time to time and last year as well as this year I've put a small painting in the miniature section at the Autry Masters Show in Los Angeles. This year's entry can be seen in #110, posted Dec. 17, 2011. It's a painting of my rooster, "Old Red" who is no longer with us - a fox got him - but not before I painted his portrait. I'll post it again after it's framed and before Autry.

Shown below is a recent 9" x 6" still life owned by Trish Smith

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

#135 In the studio: Pheasant still life con't . . .

Pheasant rooster looking east toward the pond

I have pheasants on my property in Lander, Wyoming
and I routinely observe, photograph and draw them from my studio window.

I obtained additional study material from a pheasant hunt last fall.  I always save the wings and tails to use as studio reference. The new pheasant sculpture has been on my mind for years and living with this old rooster every day was all I needed to finally actualize the piece.

Whether the artist works from nature, from memory or from fantasy, nature is always the source of creative impulses.

                                                      - Hans Hoffmann

Wings from fall pheasant hunt

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

#97 In the studio: Wildlife reference con't . . .

During the rut, or mating season, the big bucks move into our herd.  The rut is over in our area but now and then a big buck will make an appearance.

Less than a mile up the river there is a herd of whitetail.  The whitetail and mule deer's range overlap on the eastern slope of the Rockies but they do not interbreed.

The whitetail deer's antlers branch from a single main beam while the muley's antlers fork as they grow.   Each spring, after mating season, a buck's antlers start to regrow almost immediately after the old antlers are shed. Shedding typically takes place in mid February, with variations occurring by locale.

Ten-point Whitetail buck

Ten-point Mule Deer

Mule deer buck by our frozen pond

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

#96 In the studio: Wildlife reference . . .

We have a herd of mule deer on our property who bed down year round in the high grass between the pond and river.  I can be in the field while in the studio; look out the window, keep tabs on their activities and use them as models.

I have several sculptures of mule deer in progress in the studio: one of a running buck and another design depicts a small grouping of does.

Indigenous to the west, the mule deer gets its name from their large mule-like ears.  I photographed this doe and yearling yesterday.  Later in the day we had eleven does, young bucks, yearlings and fawns outside the studio.

Mule deer doe and yearling outside design studio

Feel So Good  (Mule deer buck)

7 3/4 x 11 3/4

Original etching by SandyScott

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

#92 In the studio: Wildlife reference con't . . .

My inspiration comes from nature and I rely on the creative impulses I experience on my own property where mule deer, bald eagles and many other birds and animals are routinely seen.

The beautiful Wind River Mountain Range, west of my studio, abounds with wildlife and is a constant reminder of the seasonal cycles.

Bald Eagle

5 1/2 x 7 1/2

Original etching by Sandy Scott

The Wind River Mountain Range looking west from the studio

I go to nature to be soothed

and healed and to have my 

senses put in tune once more.

                - John Burroughs

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

#91 In the studio: Wildlife reference . . .

The Popo Agie River is the north and east boundary of the Lander studio property.  The river makes an abrupt 90 degree turn at the northeast corner and our protected land to the south provides a sanctuary for wildlife:  Mule deer, pheasants, doves, geese, ducks, bald eagles, osprey, herons and other critters can be seen during all seasons of the year.

I keep a camera and sketchbook close by.





Mule Deer Buck
Original etching by Sandy Scott

 Looking out my studio window on Thanksgiving Day - A big mule deer doe

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

#89 In the studio: The Lander, Wyoming Grassy River Studio . . .

We are back in Lander, in residence and at work in the Grassy River Studio.  Since 2005 this has been our headquarters.  We were located in Fort Collins, Colorado the previous 20 years where we eventually ran our own cold foundry and had our metal poured in Loveland.

In 2000 we bought a little ranch house on 8 acres along the Popo Agie River north of Lander and built the monument studio, guest house, log design studio and main house in that order.  In 2009 we moved into the main house.  I know it sounds complicated but it's not near as complicated as is was actualizing it.

At work in the the new design studio

Standing on the deck overlooking the Popo Agie River.  Popo Agie (pronounced po-PO-zsha)
is a Crow Indian name meaning "tall grass river" or "grassy river". 

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

#88 In the studio: Lander, Wyoming headquarters

Headed west

Yesterday we returned to our Lander, Wyoming headquarters.  Unlike the cozy, intimate Canadian cabin, the Lander studio is like the west itself . . . big, expansive and at times, overwhelming.  Large works and monuments are actualized on the property in a designated facility separate from the design studio.  My  home, library, records, collections and extensive reference files all are here.  Most important, the foundry that casts my work is less than 5 miles away.

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