PROCESS.
At university I studied both biology and art. Eventually I majored in art but continued to choose one biology class for every remaining term. Plant communities, their interdependence and how they change through growth became my main focus. This interest has become central to my sculptural practice.
I began my art training in a theoretical environment at a liberal arts university with no real art department. I found another university based on the Bauhaus approach which has its emphasis on training practical, technical skills. Here I studied under Peter Agostini, one of the Abstract Expressionists, and Herk Van Tongeren. Peter Agostini’s influence was in the discipline of drawing while Herk was a leader in the reinvention of bronze casting during the 1970’s in the USA.
After university I stumbled upon The Johnson Atelier offering apprenticeships in sculpture techniques for art school graduates. Amazingly Herk Van Tongeren was the Director. This two year programme was based on the renaissance model where master craftsman handled major sculptor’s projects. Apprentices worked as assistants learning all the traditional skills while absorbing the sculptor’s thoughts at the same time.
Nowadays, the term “old school” seems appropriate to describe the materials and methods I use. Predominately I work in cast metals such as bronze, aluminium and iron but use concrete, ceramics, plastics, wood, stone, fabric- whatever is appropriate to express the idea. I often begin by doing field work collecting samples of plants from the forest and by making observations/drawings/photographs. Back in the studio further drawings continue to develop and refine the concept/form of the sculpture. Moving into 3D, I model clay or wax and use plaster and/or rubber moulds for the production of cast metal sculptures.
I began my art training in a theoretical environment at a liberal arts university with no real art department. I found another university based on the Bauhaus approach which has its emphasis on training practical, technical skills. Here I studied under Peter Agostini, one of the Abstract Expressionists, and Herk Van Tongeren. Peter Agostini’s influence was in the discipline of drawing while Herk was a leader in the reinvention of bronze casting during the 1970’s in the USA.
After university I stumbled upon The Johnson Atelier offering apprenticeships in sculpture techniques for art school graduates. Amazingly Herk Van Tongeren was the Director. This two year programme was based on the renaissance model where master craftsman handled major sculptor’s projects. Apprentices worked as assistants learning all the traditional skills while absorbing the sculptor’s thoughts at the same time.
Nowadays, the term “old school” seems appropriate to describe the materials and methods I use. Predominately I work in cast metals such as bronze, aluminium and iron but use concrete, ceramics, plastics, wood, stone, fabric- whatever is appropriate to express the idea. I often begin by doing field work collecting samples of plants from the forest and by making observations/drawings/photographs. Back in the studio further drawings continue to develop and refine the concept/form of the sculpture. Moving into 3D, I model clay or wax and use plaster and/or rubber moulds for the production of cast metal sculptures.