Artist Statement for UW-Platteville Direct Purchase.

These works were selected from gallery pieces that I have produced from personal inspiration.

My works range from pieces made with a half a pound of clay to more than nine tons. I am motivated to express in clay, my interpretation of animals and other living forms in motion. Detail is secondary, with primary emphasis on capturing the spirit of the subject.

I focus on sculpting animals, birds, fish and the human experience. Each piece concentrates on the spirit and the gesture of that subject. I am presently intrigued by making both the undefined silhouette of the mural and the surrounding negative space of the wall important part of the composition. 

As I create the image, the surface is dominated by texture and gesture created by the need to be expedient, and by my desire to show traces of the sculpting process that help to communicate the spirit and energy of the figure. I strive for accuracey of the subject with laboring the process.

What I appreciate most about working with clay is the surface spontaneity, which I find especially beneficial because of the need to be expedient in finishing the design before the clay dries. After drying it is fired with a sodium process that melts the clay surface, preserving the mural's design and creating a very durable piece impervious to weather. This process also allows the clay to maintain its natural coloration if desired and to outlast the structure on which it is mounted.