#614 Snow Moon

Since the heaviest snow usually falls during this month, Native American and Canadian tribes of the north call

February's full moon the Full Snow Moon.  Some tribes referred to this moon as the Full Hunger Moon 

since harsh and frigid weather made hunting food difficult.  

Shown below, a Mule Deer doe slowly passes under last night's Full Snow Moon in the sub-zero cold.

The night before last, a snowstorm dumped over ten more inches on our studio headquarters at the foot of the Wind River Range in Wyoming.  We woke up this morning to -16 degrees temperatures and as usual, the first thing one thinks about are the animals . . . both domestic and wild.  We have horses, goats, poultry, and feral barn cats that share the property with a resident herd of mule deer and wintering pheasants.  At the base of heated buildings such as the studio, animals congregate because the temperature is actually a few degrees warmer.  We keep a water heater in a big rubber tub and put out hay and corn for the geese.  The chickens have a heat lamp in their coop and we enjoy fresh eggs in the winter because the light induces laying eggs.  While all of this is a necessity for the domestic animals, we are careful not to tame the deer which would inhibit their wildness and ability to survive . . . after all, in the big scheme of things, we are predators.

Below, are images taken at our place along the frozen Popo Agie River in Wyoming.  

Although the surface is frozen, the big river flows underneath to join the Wind River downstream.

This photo was taken from the studio deck this morning . . . below zero but sunny!

 

The barn protects horses, goats, and barn cats but on this sunny day, the warm sun will feel good on their backs.

Geese are amazingly adaptable to frigid weather and like all creatures, require an open source of water.  Water, in this climate, can freeze in less than an hour!

Below and at right, the big domestic geese are fed corn and hay is given to the deer when snow covers the ground.  Trish cries,"goose-goose-goose" and the geese come running!

Below, Trish and Penny enjoy a warm fire after chores are done.

Below, no sun yesterday but the deer, with their long winter's coat, nestled in the snow
and bedded down for warmth and the pheasant found morsels by scratching through the snow.

In the bleak midwinter, Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

                                                                                     - Christina G. Rossetti



Deer have always been a favorite subject.  Below is an early etching (1979) entitled, "First Snow".

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

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

#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

#544 Beyond my studio window . . . bird reference

I experience many wild birds at my studio headquarters in Lander, Wyoming.
On the north and east boundaries of the rural property, the Popo Agie River flows.  The beautiful river, which is a tributary of the Wind River, is home and sanctuary to many species of birds and as the seasons change, I've come to anticipate and understand when to have my camera and sketchbook close by.

My barn cat had kittens a few weeks ago which caused a Great Horned Owl to hang out in the willow tree by the studio.  The kittens survived and I was able to photograph and sketch the great bird shown at right.

My pond is a favorite nesting site for Canada Geese and other waterfowl.
There's a little island that provides a safe place for spring nesting and typically, several broods will hatch including Canada Geese, Mallards and Mergansers.  

Below, are photos taken at the pond this spring.

Below, a migrating flock of White-faced Ibis spent several days feeding in the pasture with the resident Mallards.

Pheasants are non-migratory and can be seen year around.  Below, is an image taken in the winter.

Below, the Great Blue Heron is routinely in residence at the pond.

Shown below, is a small portfolio of bird art of the subjects mentioned in this blog.

Hay Bay
19"H 25"W 14"D

 Marauder of the Night
14"H 8"W 6"D

Nesting Heron
15"H 25"W 26"D

After the Hunt

29"H 19"W 4"D



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

    

#430 In the studio: Bird anatomy, con't . . .

Please start this bird anatomy series with post #403, March 10.

Birds' feet have very different shapes and sizes, a reflection of the many ways which birds make their living.
Most birds have only four toes, and the toes show many adaptations to the bird's way of life . . .
such as swimming, climbing, grasping, wading, walking, perching, etc.


Below, are drawings depicting eight different types of birds' feet.

Depicted below is the foot of a bird of prey.  It is equipped with long talons
and are so adapted to grasping prey that the birds have trouble walking.

Below, is another view (see previous post) of Artful Angler, showing the distinctive shape of the pelican's foot.
The sculptor who understands that each individual species has unique shapes and characteristics is able to create work that expresses distinct gesture, pose, and personality.
The goal of the artist is to leave the world of specimens and create art.
Although every shape is important, the bird's feet have the potential to
express more individuality than perhaps any other element.

Below is a recent sculpture entitled After the Hunt - Pheasant Still Life.  
Note the placement of the birds foot . . . note the sentiment and effect realized by the simple gesture.

After the Hunt - Pheasant Stiff Life
29"H 19"W 4"D

All sculpture - copyright Sandy Scott

#405 In the studio: Bird anatomy, con't . . .

Please start this bird anatomy series with post #403, March 10.

At right, is a picture of a pheasant wing,
partially folded.
Though a bird sculptor does not need to be a scientist, an
understanding of the important bones, joints, and muscles . . .
where they attach and how they articulate is a must.

In addition to this knowledge, the bird sculptor must know the major feather groups.  Birds in flight don't pose, therefore this understanding is a must.  The feather sets are basic and every bird has the same groupings; from the tiny hummingbird to the gigantic albatross.


Below is a drawing of a bird wing.  Wing flight feathers are divided into three groups:  Primaries, secondaries,
and tertials.  These groups are attached to what corresponds to the arm and hand of the human.

Most  birds have ten primaries and these feathers are attached to the "hand" part of the wing.  The primaries are individually controlled by muscles and are the propellers that provide thrust and move the bird through the air.

The secondaries are attached to the forearm region that corresponds to the human elbow and wrist.  They are not individually controlled and act more like an airplane wing providing lift.  Individual species have different numbers of secondaries:  perching birds have nine or ten, eagles have sixteen, and albatross have thirty-two.

Drawing, copyright - Sandy Scott


Below, is a recent work entitled "After the Hunt Still Life"
The sculptor must know that a pheasant, like most birds, has ten primaries and that modeling
nine or eleven on the wing is as egregious as modeling four or six fingers on the human hand.

After the Hunt Still Life
29"H 19"W 4"D
Copyright, Sandy Scott

#366 In the studio: Pheasant painting

The Wyoming studio is located on the Popo Agie River which flows into the
Wind River.  There is abundant wildlife year 'round on the property, and I can
be "in the field" while in the studio.  The river flows under an icepack most of
the winter, but is always open and the wildlife rely on it.

As I looked out the window of the studio this morning, my subject was before me. I've sculpted pheasants many times, but they were so beautiful in snow today that I simply had to paint them. Shown on the right, is the view from the studio deck.

Below, a fat pheasant cock hung around the studio all day

Below, 2 little oil studies started while having coffee this morning

#348 "Art of the West"

Those of us involved in the realm of representational art are fortunate to have a great trade magazine . . .  ART OF THE WEST to introduce, support, 

and promote our creations and careers. 

I'm honored to have my work spotlighted in the 25th Anniversary issue 

of this important publication.

   

artofthewest.com

#232 In the studio: "After the Hunt - Pheasant Still Life"

Now and then I create a piece of work that I want to live with in my home.  Most recently,
a pheasant game piece found its way into the big common room.  There's no way I can display all of my work - even my favorites . . . there are simply too many.

Living in a new log home and studio influenced my choice.  The decorative sculpture, hanging in the rustic setting, has the "lodge-look" I was in search of  and I hope it speaks
to other outdoorsmen and those who enjoy the time-honored tradition of still life in art.

Below, the new still life on a log wall in my home.  See post #205, April 7, 2012.

#205 In the foundry: "Hunter's Pheasant Gamepiece" patina . . .

The goal during patination was to present a highly decorative sculpture.
A pheasant is an extremely colorful bird, yet I did not want to take elements such as the green head, red cheek patch, white neck ring,
blue green rump feathers, etc. and apply these individual pigments to
the bronze.  I wanted to retain the bronze quality . . . not make the sculpture look like porcelain or ceramic.

The patina was achieved by applying liver of sulfur and scrubbing back with Scotch Brite which leaves darks in the negatives.  Next, after
heating the bronze, cupric nitrate and ferric nitrate were applied by
"side-brushing" and "stippling" the chemicals.

My hunter's still-life composition (also known as a gamepiece)
was designed to be a wall-hanging. For more information about
this time-honored motif refer to Blogs #134, 135 and 136,
January 14, 15 & 16, 2012.

#165 In the studio: Fur and feathers con't . . .

When I model furry, fuzzy or feather-covered critters, I always look for places to present hard edges or closely modeled detail.  Typically this is in the head area, the nose, the beak, feet or the bony break of the wrist in a bird's wing.

Left: detail - Golden Morning

Right: detail - clay model of pheasant still-life
See Blogs #134, 135, 136: January 2012

#136 In the studio: Pheasants still life con't . . .

Clay County Birds by Ken Carlson
30 x 20

Yesterday the image of this beautiful still life was emailed to the studio by fellow artist and friend, Ken Carlson.  I couldn't help notice the masterful use of lost and found edges in the work.

Lost and found edges are necessary in three-dimensional art as well as painting. While modeling the new pheasant still life sculpture (see yesterday's blog) it was important to soften and lose edges.  I refrained from using too much detail and pattern and let the larger forms dominate.  Transitions define form and as always, negative space - which has its own identity - was a major design element.

Oh Art of Painting, 

You may well consider 

Yourself most fortunate in having one of 

Your artisans elevate You, 

by his talent and manners, above the heavens!

                             Giorgio Vasari (on Raphael)

Pheasant still life 3-part mold in progress.  Notice foot and foot and wing parts on right.

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

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

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

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