Spring, Sprang, Sprung

I apply ridges of clay for the folds of the shirt. These are roughly applied as I will add warm clay which will fill and soften the area.

The clay fold is fairly stiff at room temperature so that it remains rigid and acts as an armature of sorts when I apply some warm clay to fill in the fold.

A rake tool helps me to see high spots and low spots on the sculpture as well as leaving an interesting texture.

A loop tool is used to define the little girls hair.

This is the little girl. I am very happy with her at this point, just a matter of detailing her out.

This is the little boy. He still needs work on the shirt and pants.

This view shows the children. The little girl is much further along. The little boy is still somewhat stiff and needs a bit more work.

Last year's leaf- with its arms crossed.

This is an extreme close-up of Henbit bloom buds

This is a close-up of a Bloodroot just beginning to open.

One of the first sounds of spring is the trill of the tree frog as males call to prospective mates. Soon, the puddle will be filled with tadpoles...

Turn of the Wheel; a new commission, semi finalist and finalist

The Home of the Innocents commission will be finished soon. Three of the committee members were out recently to give final approval and, as that job ends, another is just beginning.

I have been awarded a commission for the Charles City Iowa Art in the Park project. Below is a photomorph of the sculpture that will be placed in the park. The concept that the city wanted to convey is education. Entitled "Girl Reading", the sculpture will be created from Indiana Limestone and earthworks. The little girl and the book will be carved from stone and her skirt will be earthworks with a groundcover planting. The plants symbolize the ideas that become a part of us when we read.
The sculpture will be a little over 5 feet tall; the figures shown for scale.
In addition to this commission, I am also a semi-finalist for a $225,000.00 commission in Stockton, California.

The very day that I was getting approval for the Home of the Innocents clay prototypes, I received a call that I'm a finalist for the Hux Cancer Center in Terra Haute, IN ($42,000.00).

And now for something a little different, tree blossoms.


Can you guess what tree this is? You've seen this tree in bloom, but you may have missed it's inconspicuous flowers - what looks like white petals are actually sepals. It's a closeup of a Dogwood.This is a Cherry tree bloomI'm not entirely sure about this tree, I think it is a persimmon.