#604 Museum shows: The Autry Masters

The Masters of the American West at the Autry Museum in Los Angeles opens this Friday, Jan. 30.  

The prestigious show is one of America's most important exhibitions of representational art.  

Eighty of the nation's most prominent painters and sculptors participate in the annual juried invitational, 

which runs through March 8.

http://TheAutryMasters

Shown below, are the four sculptures and one painting that I am exhibiting in the show.

More information about the gala opening and event in next Sunday's blog.

Taurus Rex
19"H 16"W 8"D
6,300

 The Taker
19"H 18"W 11"D

Requiem for the Fallen

16"H 33"W 8"D

All Ears
11"H 22"W 8"D

Below,  since art school and my days in commercial art, I  have enjoyed oil painting.
 They are not to be found in galleries . . . but every year I create one painting
for the Autry Masters miniature wall.

Running Rooster

6" x 8"

Go to the BLOG INDEX on the right for more information.

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

#573 The studio in Canada: Cody quick-draw . . . planning

Last month I modeled a "quick-draw" sculpture depicting a domestic bull at the Buffalo Bill Art Show in Cody, Wyoming.  

For more information about the event and the creation of
the work, go to blog #567, posted on September 21, 2014.

The focus of this blog is my method of
planning and executing a "quick-draw".

  

PLANNING AND EXECUTING A "QUICK-DRAW" SCULPTURE

Quick-draw paintings and sculptures are popular with collectors at art shows . . . prospective buyers love
seeing artists under pressure to create a "work of art" in an hour.  To prevent your creation from being
a dubious achievement and to make the "quick-draw" experience interesting and rewarding for
both you and the collector, your success ratio dramatically improves with sufficient planning.

I've participated in many "quick-draws" over the years and my most successful efforts have been achieved
by modeling subjects that I am very familiar with or of subjects I had recently worked with.

While a live model can be beneficial, with only an hour to work . . . many times they are simply a distraction
unless there's a handler and several artists are working from the same model.  Also, the animal rarely strikes the
gesture or pose you wish to present . . .  especially birds.   I've found that a live model works best for painters.

A drawing or even a few lines such as shown below will keep you focused.

Below is an image of the "quick-draw" in progress.

When planning your creation, keep the design simple 

and present a strong silhouette of the figure.  I try to 

squint down on my work, eliminate unimportant detail, 

and strive to make the species of the animal recognizable 

from a distance.  This is especially important when 

the clay model is shown to the auction audience and a strong impression must be made from he stage and from a distance. 

Earlier this year I modeled another domestic bull and 

cast it for the Cody show.  The anatomy and overall 

"feel" of the subject had already been researched and 

addressed so it was logical for me to create another 

design of the animal at the "quick-draw".  

Although smaller, I used a similar pose, gesture, 

and overall dynamic of the original design.

Shown below, is the catalogue entry created earlier this year that 

was sold in this year's Cody show entitled, "Taurus Rex".

Taurus Rex
19"H 16"W 8"D
6,300

After the "quick-draw," painters sign their work and the winning bidder takes their treasure home.

Sculptors must return to the studio with their creation, make a mold and cast the clay model in bronze.
Multiple castings are available to sell at the auction which typically makes it a cost-effective proposition for the sculptor.

Below, are images of the "quick-draw" clay model ready to mold at the Canadian island studio last week.
I have repaired damage and dings to the soft clay model that occurred during transport from Wyoming.

To learn more about the subjects 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 upper right.

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

#567 Art shows: "Buffalo Bill Art Show" . . . 2014

I attend several museum sponsored and juried art shows during the year and this weekend marked the
33rd Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale.  Held at the prestigious Buffalo Bill Historical Center in
Cody, Wyoming and surrounded by the majesty of the Greater Yellowstone Region, the celebrated art
show, sale, and quick draw is one of the West's most popular art destinations.
Buffalo Bill Museum
http://www.buffalobillartshow.com

Below, is an image of my sculpture in this year's exhibition . . . Taurus Rex

"Taurus Rex"
19"H 16"W 8"D
Ed 21
6300

Shown below, is this year's honored guest:  Jim Wilcox.  Jim is one of the West's most accomplished landscape
painters and is recognized for his depiction of the beauty of his Wyoming home . . .  the Grand Tetons.
Jim and Narda have been friends for many years and Trish and I cherish their friendship.

  

Below, are images of Friday night's auction, gala, banquet, and festivities . . . always a jam-packed and well-attended
event in a gigantic party tent on the museum grounds.  I'm shown with the popular and illustrious
Alan Simpson - former Wyoming Senator and resident of Cody; and with Dustin Payne - an accomplished
young sculptor of Western subjects who I've known since he was a child.

Collectors love the excitement of a quick draw, and the Cody show presents a fast-paced and popular event for art lovers. Saturday morning, painters and sculptors are given one hour to create a work of art and must start with blank canvas and blank armature material.  Over 40 painters and sculptors participated in this year's event.  The horn sounds and the artists have one hour to give it their best shot!  The work is then auctioned off in the party tent that afternoon.

Below, my quick draw subject this year was a bull entitled, Bullish.  Collectors love seeing the process of creating paintings and sculpture.  A quick draw must be planned carefully before starting a sculpture and modeling in front of a crowd for an hour:  The larger shapes are massed in first with an emphasis on spontaneity and elimination of unimportant detail . . .
a clear, simplified silhouette must dominate the design.

Shown below, is Jim Wilcox painting a wonderful composition with aspens.

To learn more about the subjects 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