Black Walnut Reclining Nude

One of my neighbors had a walnut tree come down in a storm. They asked the yard man doing the clean-up to cut the tree into 4 foot lengths, he thought she said fireplace length. Still I was able to get the most out of the walnut available. The finish is for the most part just Tongue Oil, 'though I did need to color the sap wood with a little Cordovan shoe polish.

Copper-Leafed Cedar Figure

Cedar, 20" x 5" x 4"

Ceramic Figure Study

A Ceramic figure study, about 2"x 2 1/2"x 6".

The folks from the North think this to be a Sea Captain. Some of the local visitors are reminded of the civil war. I've carved several of this type of sculpture. The most interesting use of one of my pieces was to use it as the support post of a gate. That old soldier is still on duty here in Fearrington Village. I always mused about doing a group of these carvings and position them around a mock artillery piece. I think it would look striking if installed on the edge of a woods as if they were part of a battle line, ready for action.

At The North Carolina Botanical Garden

The Great Horned Owl pictured here is installed In the North Carolina Botanical Garden. It sits on a cedar pillar that supports an arbor, near the Chess Set created by Lyle Estille. The first owl proposed was to be a Snowy Owl, but then someone mentioned that if a Snowy Owl got to Chapel Hill he was probably stuffed and came down in the moving van. Thus, the Great Horned was chosen for this honor.

A Trail of Tears

These three Indian women were installed by Paul Stiller at his home. The setting he placed them in really enhances their impact. I was always moved by the story of the Cherokee being forced to move in the winter to a reservation in Oklahoma, and the hardship imposed on them.

Small Bronze Figures Before Finishing

These are some bronzes when they first came out of the sand casting. There's a bunch of finishing work to be done. I never realized how labour intensive doing bronzes was. Each step, from the wax figure, to adding the sprues for casting the metal, as well as, the pouring itself can be an opportunity for failure.

Small Plaster Figure Study

This is a small (7"x3"x2") plaster casting. I've been trying to work out the technique of molding and then casting these small figures. There have been a few bronzes done along these lines.

These "Ladies in Red" are carved in cedar. The red dress is done with a Rustoleum enamel. the head and shoulders are either gold or copper leafed.

The Girls are with Fawns

Last year, the does, I have been giving corn to, came by with their new fawns on the 11th of July. This year their first appearance, at least to my knowledge, was on the 13th of July. Two does and two fawns. they looked spectacular with their clean bright spots. They may have been here while we were away, just returning from our son's wedding in Crete, on the 10th. I usually see them in the morning and in the evening.