Arts As Important As Food

There is a Persian proverb that says:

If you have but two coins, use one for bread to feed the body and the other for hyacinths to feed the soul.

Beauty in all forms has long been known to promote health and happiness. This beauty may be in the form of flowers or man-made art, whether that be in the form of film, music, live performances, painting, poetry, or my personal favorite, sculpture.

According to researcher Dan Buettner in his latest book, Thrive,

Art, like flowers, nourishes the soul. Happy people usually have access to art...and live in places that are attractive to the eye. A city must provide venues for artists to create and exhibit their work...

One of the examples given in Thrive as a city doing a good job of this is the town of my alma mater, San Luis Obispo, California. It seems that students had good reasons for wanting to stick around this beautiful, inspiring, and art-nurturing city!

Da Vinci Painted It All By Himself?

It has long been known that many of the great masters had teams of assistants who helped create the masterpieces we enjoy to this day. The assistants often had specialties...some might paint clouds, others rocks, etc.

Leonardo Da Vinci was no exception.

His painting, "Virgin of the Rocks" has long been thought to have been painted with a team of assistants. Recently the painting was cleaned and it is now believed that the master painted this one all by himself.

So if a team helped paint a masterpiece...does that make it any less masterful? If the "painter" is more or less a director does that make him any less a maestro? Is the ensemble method of art only valid in music and theater or large scale projects such as Christo's that would be physically impossible for a single person to accomplish?

These are interesting questions for artists and art lovers to ponder.

An artist is the visionary and the driving force to have the vision brought into reality.

Does that mean that perhaps the artist does not need to personally have any skill with brush, chisel or other tool?

After all, there are many artisans who have technical skills but lack the creative vision to bring something unique to life.

Perhaps the artist does have the skills necessary (as of course Da Vinci did) but lacks the time to breath life into all the visions that exist in his mind's eye. Thus using a team to bring the pieces forth benefits all...the artist, the team and the world.

I'd love to hear thoughts from other artists and art lovers on this...for example, if you bought an oil painting by a particular artist and learned that he or she didn't actually do all the painting on the canvas, would that matter to you? Would it have less value monetarily or spiritually for you?

If you'd to read more about the cleaning of the Da Vinci that insp, click here.

Exceptional Day at Sculpture Invitational

Yesterday I spent an incredible day at the Sculpture Invitational here in Loveland, Colorado. We are so fortunate to live in a community that is so supportive of the arts...and to have not just one, but TWO huge sculpture shows every summer.

I noticed a lot of new exhibitors this year. It was fun to see the quality of the new work and to also catch up with some returning favorites...talk about what they have been up to, new works they have created, shows they are participating in, successes they've been having, and new grandkids arriving!

Met one lady who is 90 years old. She says this is her last show. She'll keep sculpting, but says she is "tired" of the shows...I asked when she started sculpting and she said when she was a little girl. She used to carve corn cobs!

Ran into several past favorites with really wonderful additions. Ann Fleming has added some bas reliefs to her collection. Very nice. Phillip Feaster finished a piece he was working on last year and added another called "Kelp Dance"...I swear I was in the kelp forest off Monterey when I looked at that one. Victor Issa finished "The Power of Thought" and it is magnificent.

Had some great conversations about stones, carving and special techniques...John Christensen, Marv Poulson, Jeff Schaezle and so many more!

Met some cool woodworkers...making me think about giving that a try! Thanks for all the info William Ooms, Lew Hammer (don't you just love that name for a sculptor!), Michael Bauermeister (another great name for a guy working in wood!)

One 1st timer that I was especially impressed with is Lisa Arquette. She combines wood, metal (bronze, polished pewter), and glass. She does it all herself. Lots of symbolism behind her work. Very powerful.

Another 1st time exhibitor was David Mallin...very sensual work...love the play of the shadows.

Saw old friends with wonderful new pieces...Greg Todd, Lori Acott-Fowler, Jeff Schaezle, Sam Terakedis, Monty Taylor...

Also ran into friends not exhibiting...Stalin Tafura (congrats on your recent sale & award in the Sculptural Pursuit competition!), Collen Nyanhongo (very interesting conversation on the challenges in moving a permanent installation in Ft Collins), Kathryn Schroeder (Chapungu Gallery) ...

Thanks to everyone for a fantastic show. It was great to see you all and to hear how well you are doing!

Sculpture Goes Missing: Loveland Sculptor May Recreate Historic Work

Kirsten Kokkin is one of 5 artists selected as finalists in the Angel of Music competition. This competition is to be the artist selected to recreate a sculpture that was on the gravestie of American composer and pianist Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829-1869). The sculpture went missing in the 1950s.

How does a sculpture go missing? I guess someone must have really liked it. The marble angel was almost 5 feet tall. Also taken was the 6-1/2 foot tall marble pedestal. This is no small feat! I mean, it is not like you can just put that in your pocket!

In preparation for the new work, the pedestal has already been restored and an anitque wrought iron fence has been installed, along with greenery.

The sculpture competition is being put forth by a 501c(3) organizaion the Green-Wood Historic Fund. This organization conserves and restores the Brooklyn NY, Green-Wood Cemetery's endangered monuments. The cemetery is listed as a National Historic Landmark, is 171 years old and is the final resting place of many historical figures including Leonard Bernstein, Horace Greeley, FAO Schowartz, Samuel Morse and Boss Tweed.

Kirsten Kokkin is one of our talented local sculptors...who like most us moved here from somewhere else.

One of the things I really appreciate (dare I say "love"?) about living in Loveland, Colorado is our art community. Not just the artists, but how the community as a group embraces the arts.

We have beautiful sculptures all around the city, wonderful galleries and a fantastic museum. Kokkin's work has created quite a local controversy in the past when she created an exquisite piece, The Triangle, that was in the classical tradition, including the figures being nude. The piece ended up being relocated and can be seen in the Benson Sculpture Park.

Bobbie Carlyle Classical Sculptor

Bobbie Carlyle is another one of the extremely talented sculptors who calls Loveland, Colorado home. Her work is classic in style...with powerful messages and exquisite detail that bring to mind the work of great masters.

A recent commission for Bobbie is to re-create a classic female figure that was a fountain adorning the old Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. The hotel has long since been razed and is now the site of a learning center for the LA school district.

Starting from historic photographs, Bobbie suggested a clothed version of the original nude...as a more appropriate choice for a school district. Her design won the competition. The piece is titled "Sea Swept" and is scheduled to be cast later this summer.

I remember first learning about Bobbie's work when I saw "Self Made Man" in Writers Square in Denver. That version was larger than life of a man carving himself out of rock. This piece is what launched Bobbie's career and she has sold copies in a variety of sizes which can be found around the world.

You can see more of Bobbie's work at her website or by visting her at the annual sculpture shows in Loveland (Sculpture in the Park and the Sculpture Invitational are both in August...don't miss them!) She also sells her work by commission and through selected galleries.

Artists Websites and Art Resources Links Growing

Be sure to check out the growing list of artists' website and art resources.

I will growing these lists as a service to my fellow artists...

I am a sculptor, however I started as a printmaker and my mother is a painter, so I'm not limiting my links to sculptors...

Let me know if you would like a link to this site, or if you can recommend someone that would be a good fit.

I'm excited at the possibilities here to help spread the word about great art and helping artists find the resources they need for creating and promoting their work...tools, marketing tips, etc.

Looking forward to hearing from YOU!

Stone Sculptor Ellen Woodbury

I met Ellen Woodbury almost 3 years ago at a workshop taught by Collen Nyanhongo, a master stone sculptor from Zimbabwe. It was fun to get to know her and to see her work on her first stone.

Ellen is a fascinating, energetic, expressive person and her work reflects that. It also reveals her background as an animator for Disney, a position she held for 20 years! Ellen started her sculpting while still employed as an animator...like many sculptors she worked in clay.

So, while Jan. 2006 may have seen Ellen's first stone sculpture, she was no "newbie" in the art world. And it shows!

Ellen's work is simple and complex at the same time. Her pieces tell stories and engage the viewer.

We are fortunate to have Ellen call Loveland, Colorado home...come see her at the Sculpture in the Park show. She has exhibited there for the last two years--showing her stones--quite an accomplishment for a new medium!

Bruce Campbell, Creating Art from Discards

Bruce Campbell is one of my favorite local artists. He never fails to impress, amaze and inspire me with this talent, creativity and unique approach to life and art.

Not only is Bruce a talented sculptor and painter, he combines these skills with a unique way to reuse old items.

My art is created using various combinations of welding, carving, painting and engraving on salvaged industrial forms. I've diverted countless tons of material from the waste stream, and hopefully I'm helping people see the beauty and value in so-called "junk". As an artist, I benefit from the unique shapes and odd details produced for functionality (my process is a collaboration with unknown people who were unaware they were creating sculpture) which are often improved by being dented, gouged or partially crushed. I also love the gorgeous surface patinas and textures created by the forces of time, the gradual reclamation of nature.

Walking around Bruce's studio is an eye-opening experience. Old fashioned washing machines sport new faces, huge tanks become kings and queens with curls fashioned from parts of water heaters.

Old wooden gates become mystical wall sculptures.

Figures seem to appear and disappear, morphing from one image to another.

Much of Bruce's art is conducive to outdoor display. Whether due in part to scale or because of the materials, exposure to the elements can further add to the works.

By combining "found steel" and other found objects with welding, engraving and painting, Bruce brings new life to items that otherwise would find themselves either in the landfill or recycled into some new gadget.

Bruce does more than keep thing out of the landfill and save our resources...Bruce catapults everyday items into fantastic sculptures that are sold and exhibited around the west.

Photograph "Envision", Sculpture and Photograph copyright Bruce Campbell

Artists Give Back through Empty Bowls

Empty Bowls events happen around the country and are a great way for people to help the less fortunate.

Proceeds typically go to a Food Bank, soup kitchens or other source of food for people who can use a little help.

What makes these events different is that there are actual pottery bowls given to those who attend the event. The bowls are made by local artists, students and professionals. It is away for them to help bring awareness to the needs of others.

By making and providing the empty bowls, they give others the opportunity to fill them.

So check out the non-profit group Empty Bowls and learn more about their efforts to end hunger. This project started in 1990 and has since raised millions of dollars to help feed people. Find an Empty Bowl event near you--and take home a bowl!

Art in Your Community

Check to see what is happening in your community in the world of art. Most cities have a museum, or gallery or two. Take some time and see what they have to offer. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Several of our neighboring towns have events called "Studio Tours" where you can actually see artists working in their studios. It is a great opportunity to meet the artist and see where/how they work.

If there is no museum or gallery where you live, see what is nearby. You probably don't have to go to the "big city" to find art. Talk to your neighbors, shopkeepers, people in your government or Chamber of Commerce. They may know of someone in the area who makes fantastic quilts or sculptures.

Keep your eyes open for what is happening locally and you might just find a great piece for your collection!

Sculpture Withdrawal

It has already been a week since the Sculpture Invitational started...I'm suffering from withdrawal! Withdrawal of seeing sculpture and talking about all things sculptural, from shows to sales to techniques to stones, my brain was filled last weekend.

I did get a quick fix when I was walking in my neighborhood on Monday morning and saw a beautiful marble bear in the back of a trailer...I recognized the bear and then the sculptor walked up. Turns out he was visiting some old friends before he headed home. He and I had been tent neighbors last year. We had had only a few minutes to catch up at the show. Now I got to hear some more details about what he has been up to and how the show went.

He told me about a new show that he was in that is in South Dakota and some of the great contacts he has made. Of course he also gave me a bit of a hard time for not being in the show this year. So we made a pact--we'd see each other next year, both as exhibitors. So there you have it, my first public commitment to be in the show next year. Guess I'd better get cracking--I mean carving!

That is one of the great things about artists. Some people would think we are "competing" for customers and therefore we shouldn't encourage too many other artists to participate. What we understand is that art is so subjective that there really isn't competition. The customer who loves my work might not like his at all, and vice versa. Oh, there will be customers who love work by more than one artist--I sure do, but even if the collector decides to buy one person's work over that by another artist, it still isn't a competition. We also know that by having more artists with a variety of media and styles, we encourage more collectors to come!

Another great thing about artists is there willingness to share what they know with other artists (and lay persons, too.) Whenever I go to a booth or studio and see something that I admire, I ask lots of questions. I let the sculptor know that I'm a stone sculptor and the conversations are just awesome. I have asked opinions on polishing, tool preferences and how someone got a specific feel on the stone. I've also asked questions of sculptors far more experienced than I am about a problem I've been having. I always get great responses. I really appreciate the teachers that I have found this way--even if the lesson is only five minutes! I enjoy teaching others, too, and find the openness and sharing is fantastic--it really helps offset the fact that we spend so much of our time alone in our studios. Maybe that's why we like to share when we have the chance!