#717 "Bison Basin"

"Bison Basin"
19"H 18"W 11"D
5,400

The American Bison or buffalo has been elevated to the stature of the 

American Bald Eagle as a national emblem of our great country.  

Under recent legislation the bison became the National Mammal 

of the United States due to its economic and cultural 

significance in the history of our great country. 

Not long ago more than 60 million roamed North America but by 1890 

their story almost ended with extinction. The iconic mammal’s largest 

population today resides in Yellowstone National Park – two hours from 

my Wyoming studio.  While the bison has long been a favorite subject 

for my sculpture.  It is more than an animal to me, it is an emotional 

manifesto that exemplifies my deep affinity for the West and its history. 

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

#701 "American Icon"

The images below were taken at the foundry in the patina room.

"American Icon"

42"H 64"W 25"D
Edition 5

"American Icon" was commissioned by the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado

The American Bison, or Buffalo, has been elevated to the stature of the American Bald Eagle 

as a national emblem of our great country. The bison became the National Mammal of the 

United States under recent legislation due to its economic and cultural significance in the 

history of our great country.  Over 60 million roamed North America at one time but by 1890, 

their story almost ended with extinction. The largest population today of the iconic mammal 

resides in Yellowstone National Park - two hours from my Wyoming studio. While the bison 

has long been a favorite subject for my sculpture, It is more than an animal to me, it is 

an emotional manifesto that exemplifies my deep affinity for the West and its history.


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

#693 Remarque: "Bison Wall Hanging"

This sculpture was executed in high relief and designed to hang above eye level.

Bison Wall Hanging

19"H 10" 10"
Edition 50
2,400
(Please call for availability)

Bison Wall Hanging

19"H 10" 10"
Edition 50
2,400
(Please call for availability)

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

#502 Museum Shows: The Briscoe . . . "Briscoe Bison Fragment I"

Our next major show is the Briscoe Museum's "Night of the Artists".  Located on San Antonio's famed River Walk, the institution is housed in San Antonio's first public library.  The newly restored Art Deco masterpiece consists of the historic museum building,  the newly constructed Jack Guenther Pavillion, the adjacent McNutt Courtyard and Sculpture Garden and is spread across one-and-a-quarter acres in downtown San Antonio.

Invitational and juried museum shows such as the Briscoe and the Autry Museum's Masters of the American West - now in progress -  have played an important role in the resurgent interest in representational art.  Quality, originality and healthy competition among the artists has been the result and astute collectors and museums recognize it.
http://briscoemuseum.org
http://theautry.org/

The prestigious shows are coveted invitations and I always introduce new and current work at the important events.  

The Briscoe "Night of the Artists" opens Fri., March 28 with a gala opening event.
Public exhibition open March 30 and continues through April 27.

Shown below, is one of the new works I will introduce at Briscoe . . . Briscoe Bison Fragment I

Briscoe Bison Fragment I
30"H 19'W 9"D


Shown below is the new work in progress and in clay.

Shown below, is my model for the new work.
For more information see posts #458 - 461, Sept 4 - 15, 2013.

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

#469 A new book: "Art of the National Parks"

Earlier this year, a new book entitled, "Art of the National Parks", was introduced.

The book includes 70 artists who offer distinctive visions of 8 of the nation's beloved national parks.

With more than 450 artworks in 430 pages, this glorious, large format book is a must for
anyone who has hiked the trails, watched a sunset, marveled at buffalo herds,
or yearned to experience America's mythic and transformative vistas.  

Published by Fresco Fine Art Publications, co-authored by Susan Hallsten McGarry,
well-known author;  Jean Stern,  curator and art-historian;  and Terry Lawson Dunn,

biologist and educator, the book is an indispensable compendium of artists who are at the
forefront of 21st century American landscape and wildlife art.


Below, included in Yellowstone section of the book are friends and fellow artists . . .
Clyde Aspevig, Scott Christensen, Ralph Oberg,  Jim Wilcox, and more.
Jim's painting is featured on the cover of the magnificent book.

http://www.amazon.com/
http://www.unmpress.com/

My work was included in the Yellowstone National Park section.

Below, are images of works featured.

 Sleepy Fox
18"H 15"W 9"D

 Ancient Way
20"H 24"W 11"D

 Red-tailed Hawk at Sappa Creek
42"H 30"W 25"D

 Harbinger of Light
13H 20"W 16"D

Hay Bay
19"H 25"W 14"D


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

#466 In the field: Yellowstone, con't . . .

While in Yellowstone last week, we encountered many different animal species - including the American Bison.

Below, are images of a memorable field trip in Yellowstone.

Below, in the distance . . . Yellowstone geyser drama.  Bison love this location in the winter.

Having just completed a bison monument for the Briscoe Museum in San Antonio - see blog posts #458  through #461, I was very familiar with the subject and was anxious to model a little clay study of the magnificent animal in the field.

Below, I set up my sculpture stand a safe distance from a small herd in the Dunraven area, enjoyed a picnic,
shot a few photos, and started with my typical working method . . .  sketches in my sketchbook.

Below, the little clay study progressed quickly, although it was difficult to warm the clay in the crisp, late afternoon air.

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

#461 In the studio: The Briscoe Museum sculpture project, con't . . .

Currently in progress in the monument sculpture studio in Wyoming

is a project for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas.  

Please start this series of posts with #453, Aug. 18, 2013.

While creating the Briscoe Museum architectural bison relief panel,
I attempted to develop an impression of depth while maintaining clarity of silhouette.

I cannot stress enough, the challenge of sculptural relief work . . .
the sculptor must understand how much projection is necessary to cause the viewer to see rounded form.

Movement of the planes caused by the muscular masses and prominence of bony waypoints
must be understood and arranged by the sculptor to create the illusion of kinetic energy.

Below, by repeating the same visual surface elements, I sought a feeling of harmonious

relationships and planned pattern while interpretation of the composition as a whole.

Below, through partial projection from the main mass, I sought to "trick the eye" and

cause the viewer's imagination to take over and feel the bison's movement and power.

Below, are close up images of the rich surface and texture created in clay
of the bison's rugged and distinctive wooly coat.
Choice of patina for the bronze casting will heighten the dramatic effect of the active surface passages.

Below, the center bison head is projected 20" toward the viewer.
Foreshortening of this image occurred when photographing the high relief.

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

#460 In the studio: The Briscoe Museum sculpture project, con't . . .

Currently in progress in the monument sculpture studio in Wyoming

is a project for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas.  

Please start this series of posts with #453, Aug. 18, 2013.

Texture is the actual as well as the visual "feel" of a sculpture's surface.

The tactile quality of the large bison architectural panel was carefully thought out.
My goal was to emphasize and exaggerate the effects of chiaroscuro  . . . 

the presentation of light and dark on the figures.

Below, are images of bison . . . note the texture and "feel" of the animal's coat.

Below, are close-ups of the bison clay model surface in progress.

The rich surface and texture of the animals's coat, the rugged and distinctive quality of the

wooly hair which protects the creature from severe winter weather, had to be represented. 

The sculptor must realize that proportion, design, and form must be properly modeled before

surface and pattern is established.

Anatomy has been blocked in and is ready to continue the process of accepting surface and texture.

Below, surface texture has been added to the shoulder.

#459 In the studio: The Briscoe Museum sculpture project, con't . . .

Currently in progress in the monument sculpture studio in Wyoming

is a project for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas.  

Please start this series of posts with #453, Aug. 18, 2013.

A great inspiration and resource while creating the Briscoe Museum buffalo monument this summer occurred while visiting a local rancher and friend who raises and breeds bison.  I rode on the hay wagon during feeding time and had a safe place from which to sketch, photograph, and observe the magnificent animals.  One must remember that they are wild and are dangerous . . . an up-close and personal experience must be carefully presided over.

Below, are photos taken while sitting on the hay wagon during feeding time.  

I was able to sketch and take several hundred images to use as reference for my sculpture project.

Being there and observing was an invaluable experience.

Below, is hair from the bison . . . useful in the studio while establishing my plan for surface, texture, pattern, and completing the monument.

Below, is a wonderful mount of a bison skull in the design studio that I've had for many years . . . useful during creation of the monument for obvious reasons.

Below, is an image of the enormous architectural panel in progress.

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

#458 In the studio: The Briscoe Museum sculpture project, con't . . .

Currently in progress in the monument sculpture studio in Wyoming
is a project for the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas.  

Please start this series of posts with #453, Aug. 18, 2013.

Phase Two of the Briscoe Museum project, a demanding and exciting commission that has been in production
in the studio this summer, depicts three running buffalo.

The ten foot wide bas-relief panel will be installed in a niche of the beautifully restored,
architectural deco masterpiece on San Antonio's Riverwalk  

Below, are two images of the clay maquette - or small study - that is the precursor to the large monument panel.  Measurements are taken from the maquette to enlarge the sculpture.
 As the work develops, modifications must be made to ensure the sculptor's desired effect.

Below, the monument is carved and blocked in using dense foam.
The foam is then covered with clay and modeled before being molded and cast into bronze.

Note, the foam leg being carved into lower relief as the monument progresses.

Adjustments continue and the tray on the lower right fills with foam and clay residue.

Relief work is demanding and the sculptor must understand how much projection is
necessary to trick the viewer's eye into seeing rounded form.

Below, are images of the monument clay model in progress.

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