The Bull has been copper leafed and given a greenish patina. The overall size is 33" x 20".
The horns are sections of deer antlers trimmed and fixed with an epoxy putty.

Spencer( XXXX)

Halloween is here again

The ghouls and the trolls have returned to terrorize the Millcroft neighborhood. They have moved from the back yard, where they spend most of year, to the front yard.

A Walk Around the Yard

Viewing some of my works.

My interest in sculpting began with a boy scout knife, a piece of cherry wood and some inspiration provided by seeing carvings in a shop in the old section of Quebec City, Canada. My first carving was of a horse, of course the legs were fragile and were easily broken during the carving process. Years later I had the opportunity to attend a few meetings of a carving club in Saddle Brook N.J. There I was introduced to wood carving, the membership was varied in their interests. Some were into relief carving, others were carving "in the round". Here I got exposed to many different techniques. My first carvings with this group were of Gnomes and Santa-like figures. I found a place on the Ramapo River where beavers were actively felling Aspen trees and doing what beavers do. I was fascinated by their tooth marks on the wood. I brought home a few of the stumps they left and carved an old man's face in the sides of these stumps. As time passed I began to carve shore birds and fish. The source of Aspen wood stumps was lost when we moved to NC. Here I found cedar fence posts to carve my "Wood Spirits". Along with the Wood Spirits I've been sculpting female figures in cedar and refining some of these pieces to be "Ladies in Red". Much of the work is done in my garage which serves as my studio. My interests have extended to works in clay, plaster and bronze. Many outdoor pieces are on display in our yard here at 867 Millcroft. You may even be interested in going to YouTube and then to "zen867" and watching the video labeled "A Walk Around the Yard". If you wish to call 919.542.3429, we may be able to arrange for a short studio tour.

Botanical Garden Show Nearly Over

The Botanical garden show is nearly over. The Wood Spirit I entered is going to a new home. The Indian Maiden is coming back home to 867 Millcroft.

Ready for the Botanical Garden Sculpture Show

This Wood Spirit and Indian Maiden will be entered in the 2010 Botanical Garden Sculpture Show. Both pieces were completed this past week and just need to have their paperwork and entry fee filed.

Indian Maiden II

The video shows the progression of the carving of Indian Maiden II. This is intended to be an outdoor piece. The copper leafing on her face should develop a patina as time passes. I should have started the video off with a little narrative, showed the finished product, then got into the way it was carved.

Indian Maiden II

Carving another Indian Maiden

I began carving another Indian Maiden I'm hoping to have it finished for the Botanical Garden Show that's coming up in the Fall. Actually the entry must be made before July 15 th. I must carve the eyes and then copper leaf her face. She'll not be as detailed as the first Indian Maiden. I'm curious as to how the copper leaf will hold up exposed to the elements.

25 May 10

I just got a wonderful piece of cedar in the form of a 7 foot straight and clean log. Today I'll square off the bottom so it'll stand on it's own.
I wanted to mention I have some videos on uTube under the account listed as zen867 . The Troll Carving and A Walk Around the Yard are there to view if you wish.

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Adjusting the video size

I found that I could adjust the size of the video from utube by going into the embedding and changing the height and width numbers. It had been too wide and was shifted off center.

Carving A Troll

A New Troll Arrives for the Spring

At last the weather has become carve-able, and the first piece just had to be a Troll. Getting started after a long cold winter, where the garage studio was not a pleasant place to spend long hours in. Carving a Troll was a good way to start since I have a lot of flexibility, errors become "character"and Trolls are not supposed to be handsome. So he joins some of the crew that will participate in the next Halloween display. His blue coveralls set him apart from the rest of the group.

It's February

It's been cold these days and the work has suffered. I am just finishing a Merganser Duck. It's carved from pine,under-painted with aniline dyes and acrylic paints. The next step is to copper leaf it.

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A Walk Around The Yard

The Summer is Winding Down.

Things have been hectic here at times. I put two pieces into the Botanical Garden Show and I had two pieces in the Come Out and Play Show at Debbie Meyer's Farm.... Most of the work just prior to these events was focused on finishing the Mandan Indian Maiden. Even as I speak there are a few little things that need doing on her. Her black hair needs the final gloss applied, a bit of fringe needs to be positioned on her boot. I have designs on starting another Indian, perhaps a warrior, though I like the maidens better. I could start two and vacillate back and forth.

Going to " http://www.youtube.com/user/zen867 " will provide a look at some videos of the art and the grounds.

Wood Spirits Waiting for Placement

This two Wood Spirits are waiting near the door to the Totten Center at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. Cathy Buck will find a place for them in the Garden for the up coming Garden Sculpture Show.

A Wood Spirit for The Come Out and Play Show

This Wood Spirit has a special accommodation built into it's beard. Namely a small studio apartment for the likes of a Carolina Wren. It was created for Come Out and Play.
"Come Out and Play"is a wonderful gathering of artists and their works that is hosted by Debbie Meyer and Eric Brantley and Beckett.
The following link describes the show and the directions on how to get there:
http://carrboro.com/comeoutandplay/

She's Virtually Finished

She's virtually finished, at least in the big areas. What's left is filling in the small holes created by moving the pieces of fringe trying to get them to look their best. I just remembered there's a little fringe need on one of her boots. A dry brush with a little burnt umber will enhance the shadows. Her little "Medicine Bag"has a small stone from Mandan country.and big spiritual medicine in the form of some hair from a Dakota Buffalo. Both the stone and the buffalo hair were gifted to provide power to the piece. They are authentic and precious I'm grateful to be able to put them in her medicine bag. Such a bag would probably not be on display, but rather hidden beneath or in the clothing of the wearer. Since the contents would be spiritually very important to the individual and revealed to the subject after long hours of praying and fasting to a produce a near hallucinatory state. The little bits of animals or plants associated with this trance, make up the contents. The ladies , even the Indian culture, as ladies everywhere seem to carry, a little purse. These are usually beaded and may even have teeny bells, so they "jingle". This little bag is decorated with the Turtle motif.

The Cowrie Shells Have Been Added

The belt has been completed, the cowrie shells have been added. Next more fringe and a "Medicine Bag" must be fabricated and set in place. The final touches will be with a paint brush. re-painting the areas marred by epoxy filler near the belt-line. and the brass tacks used to hang the cowrie shells. The very last finishing touches will add shadows where needed and gloss to her hair.

The Beading is Nearly Completed

The beading was done as short sections of different lengths to be inserted into the neck area as to give the impression of them being continuous strands encircling the neck. First small pieces of double stick tape was used to hold each individual strand in place. Plumber's epoxy was then pressed through the beads and in the neck area so as to secure the bead work in place. I used the 15 minute epoxy putty since I wasn't sure of how this would work out. Luckily, things went very well and there was time to spare for fine tuning the drape of the beads.
One of the most attractive aspects of the Mandan women was a genetic trait of patches of gray hair which commonly occurred throughout the population. The men didn't care for it so they colored it, Catlin says, the ladies took great pleasure in its look, I do too.
Adding some fringe and cowrie shells are the next steps in the adornment of this Maiden's dress.

The Copper Leafing is Completed

The copper leaf has been added. The next step is the bead work around the neck, the treatment of the sleeves and the addition of a medicine bag or purse. I have a book on the way that will help me out with her dress and how to handle designs on her dress.