#711 "Raven Magic"

"Raven Magic Wall Hanging"

13"H 22"W 5"D
Edition 50
2,100

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

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

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

While most birds, like the magpie shown at right, have predictable tail flight feather and covert sets, there are a few with unique tails.  

The peacock's (related to pheasants) tail or "train" is not the 

tail flight feathers but the upper tail covert feathers . . . they sport an eye-like pattern.

Roosters have a profusion of structured, decorative tail feathers that do not fall under any specific tail-shape category.
   

Why is this important to the bird artist?  The bird artist must not only know how the skeleton is arranged and how it articulates, but where the feather groups and sets originate . . . their size, shape. proportion, and function. 

Shade of Paradise 
13"H 23"W 11"D

Crowing Rooster II - wall hanging
22"H 14"W 8"D

Above is a picture of our bantam-cross rooster . . . beautiful, tiny, and mean!
Photo, 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

#386 In the field: Autry Masters, con't . . .

I enjoyed brisk sales at the Autry Masters . . . it was rewarding to see all of the "intent to purchase" names pulled out of the box and posted!  All work was new 

and introduced at the show.

Below, images and memories of one the most important exhibitions of representational art in the country:  

The Autry Masters.  For more information about the show, start with post #379, Jan. 22 and go to  http://theautry.org/masters

Left to right: Joyce Browning, Trish Smith, John Potter, Sandy Scott, Tom Browning

 Jackie Autry, Founding Chair, Life Trustee, and collector of my work

Jim and Jodie Rea, Trustees, friends, and collectors of my work

Friend and fellow artist, Howard Terpning

Howard and Marlies have one of my fountains at their home in Tucson

 

 Fellow artist, Dean Mitchell . . . I have admired his work for many years

Nesting Heron was among my works that sold well at Autry

#384 In the Field: Autry Masters, con't . . . "Crowing Rooster"

Below, is an image of Crowing Rooster, another new piece that will be introduced this
weekend at the Autry Museum's Masters of the American West Exhibition and Sale.
The high-relief sculpture is mounted for a wall hanging.

For more information start with post #379, Jan. 22 and go to

http://theautry.org/masters

Crowing Rooster
22"H 14"W 8"D
Copyright - Sandy Scott - 2013

#349 Autry Masters Exhibition: "Crowing Rooster" . . .

Every year I introduce new work at the invitational museum shows.  

This year one of my new entries is Crowing Rooster.  

The high-relief sculpture is mounted for a wall hanging and will be introduced 

Feb. 1, 2013 at the Autry Masters Exhibition, Autry Museum . . . Los Angeles.  

Crowing Rooster  16'H 15"W 3 "D
Bronze . . . cupric nitrate and ferric nitrate patina

#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

#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.

#112 Functional art: "Cocina Queen"

This wall hanging works well in the kitchen for obvious reasons.

Cocina Queen
9"H 9"W 7"D
View 1

Cocina Queen
9"H 9"W 7"D
View 2

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

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

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

#51 Remarque - "Sleepy Fox Mask"

This mask, created in high relief, is designed to be hung on a wall or flat surface.

Sleepy Fox Mask

8"H 7"W 6"D

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

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

#32 Remarque: "Crowing Rooster II Wall Hanging"

This work - created life size in"alto"or high relief - is meant to be hung on a wall or flat surface.  My goal was to express clarity and delight with a simple narrative.

Crowing Rooster II Wall Hanging
16"H 15"W 3"D

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

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