#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

#695 "Wind River Encounter"

"Wind River Encounter"
22"H 32"W 22"D
Edition 65
18,000

The Grizzly is common where my studio is located at the base of the 
Wind River Range in the wild state of Wyoming.  I’ve encountered the animal 
only once while hiking in the local high country but routinely see them nearby in Yellowstone.

The anatomy of an animal with thick hair or fur such as a Grizzly must be understood 

in order to avoid modeling a shapeless mass.  Where the animal’s bones protrude 

and articulate the fur patterns break and reveal themselves thus showing how the 

skeleton is arranged.  There are times when artistic license must be employed to 

"trick" the viewer into seeing the animal's anatomy under thick fur or hair.  

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

#684 In the field: Pronghorn Antelope and Sage Grouse

The "in the field" experience is a necessity for the wildlife artist.  There's no way to convince your viewer that your work is authentic unless you've been there yourself.  Autumn is a special time to be in the field for many reasons . . .

 especially if an artist is in search of game for studio reference as well as meat for the table.

Trish and I both drew antelope doe tags this year and were successful in putting meat in the freezer for the winter.  Wyoming antelope country is austere, vast, and beautiful.   After we filled our tags, we returned to our 

 hunting area several times with the cameras to collect photo reference material and to experience the animals.  

Below, are images taken this September and October.

Below, are images of Sage Grouse.  The big bird is not on the endangered species list but could be soon.
A great time to photograph them is in the spring during mating season . . . the male has a spectacular display!

We do not hunt them for the table . . . only with a camera. Also, from what I understand, they're not very good eating and I'm spoiled with the succulent Ruffed Grouse we hunt in the north country.  Our Brittany, Penny loves to find them after the day's hunt and I was able to photograph the secretive birds last month for reference material that will be used in the studio.  I'm currently working on a new antelope sculpture and a Sage Grouse composition is mentally in the works.  

Below, is an image of an early antelope sculpture created in the 1990s.

Go to the BLOG INDEX and Reference Page for more information.  

See post #616

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

#670 Africa Portfolio 1 . . . "Recumbent Giraffe"

In October, 2013, Trish and I traveled to Africa with a group of 9 internationally known artists to sketch, photograph, paint, observe, and experience the amazing wildlife in Tanzania.  The purpose of the trip was and is to raise awareness and funds to combat the African poaching crisis where thousands of elephants are slaughtered annually for their ivory tusks.  

To learn more about the trip, please go to blog #477, posted Nov. 10, 2013 through #497, posted Jan. 19, 2014.
https://www. Post #477

Last weekend Columbine Gallery in Loveland, Colorado hosted the first show for the group of 9 artists -
Artist Ambassadors Against Poaching  [AAAP] - and a generous portion of the sales went to our anti-poaching efforts . . . "Ivory Orphans" which cares for the young elephants after the adults are killed for their ivory.  More shows are planned.

To learn more about the art show at Columbine Gallery to raise funds for "Ivory Orphans", see the previous 3 posts.

http://www.columbinegallery.com/african-wildlife-trust.html

The focus of this blog is the Giraffe;  a favorite subject depicted in one of the new works in Africa Portfolio 1. 

The new bronze sculpture was introduced at the Columbine art show in Loveland, Colorado last weekend.

Below, are photos of the sculpture, "Recumbent Giraffe"

Below, are photos of Giraffe taken in the field in Tanzania.

Next Sunday's blog spotlights the creation of "Recumbent Giraffe".



For anatomy reference, see page #616 and #655

Go to the BLOG INDEX  and Reference Page for more information.  

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

#17 Remarque: "Wind River Descent"

While hiking in the Wind River Range near my home in Lander, I glassed an enormous herd of elk in a meadow below me.  I watched them in the brilliant sun as they slowly descended  the valley and moved into the timber.  Lost in thoughts of the beautiful scene, my sculpture was before me. The style, sentiment and spirit were derived from the subject.

Wind River Descent
27"H 28"W 17"D
7800

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

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

#5 Remarque: "Elephant Fragments I & II"

On September  15, 2011 Wilcox Gallery in Jackson, Wyoming is introducing a new portfolio of my sculpture and recent works. This coincides with the Western Visions Art Show at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, the Jackson Hole Arts Festival and other art events.  

 

Over the next few weeks I will introduce new works on this blog.  Many of the new pieces are fragments and truncated sections from previously introduced works in the round.  They are designed to be used as mantelpieces or placed close to a wall.  I'm also presenting three-dimisional bronze wall hangings that group well with paintings.  

All sculptures are signed and numbered in a limited edition and will be available in my galleries.  I will post the new sculpture as it comes out of the foundry and is photographed and review recent works as well.  You will notice that some of the recent bronzes are already on my website.

Elephant Fragments I and II

Elephant Fragment I

Elephant Fragment II

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

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

#3 In the studio: Making a mold

Today we started the mold on the new whitetail deer at the Lake of the Woods studio.  Notice -Trish has cut off the antlers and one rear leg to make a parts mold that will be cast and assembled in bronze at the foundry.


I'm often asked how it's possible to travel between 3 studios and get my work done. The fact that Trish makes my molds is the main reason.  I don't have to shuttle delicate clay models from the studio to a distant mold maker - if I model a sculpture in Canada or Colorado - the mold is done right there and then taken to the foundry in Lander for casting.


Another reason Trish and I can travel so easily between three studios is our good friend Mary Jo Hemesath.  She lives on the premises of our Lander headquarters and looks  after things such as the yard, the house, horses, chickens, domestic geese and several house and barn cats - the dogs travel with us.  She forwards our mail and with the help of the foundry (and the electronic age) the basic needs are taken care of by these wonderful friends.

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

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

#2 In the studio: Whitetail deer (untitled)

We are at the Lake of the Woods studio on a cool, breezy summer afternoon.  Sandy just completed a new sculpture of a bounding whitetail deer. Although it looks as if the photo was shot in the fall, the glow in the distance is actually a stunning  Canadian sunset setting the trees ablaze.

Trish will start the mold in the morning.  This sculpture is the maquette (study) for the larger version that will be introduced at the Autry in February.

We will be returning to our Lander headquarters soon to get ready for the Wilcox Gallery Wildlife and Wildlands show in Jackson, Wyoming Sept 12-30.  The show coincides with the Western Visions Show at the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Sandy will be there Sept. 15-18.  Then its back to Lander to antelope hunt and then to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming the following weekend.

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

Blog, text, photos, drawings, and sculpture, Whitetail deer, clay models. . . © Sandy Scott and Trish