13 Dec
Canadian Artist, Soapstone sculpture, Uncategorized

Humour with soapstone art

Whether the  pieces of art sell or not, well that as always is up to the client. If I can have a sense of humour about my art most of the time, that is what I can control.

Pictured here is a spring chicken.  I entered myself in a contest a few years ago which in our circles is called; a juried exhibition.

Sounds quite a bit more professional and fancy to be juried and exhibited instead of shown.  Do dog shows have juried exhibitions?  Just wondering?

Either way,  I think you are supposed to feel better when you get in and worse when you don’t. This spring spring chicken bit of tongue in cheek humour made me smile and didn’t get in.

I think the criteria for the exhibition through the gallery that operated it was;  the change of seasons .  That is pretty all encompassing and could have taken anything from my art world including a collage of nature .  I however veered towards humour.

In case you may need some explaining;  I am a gear head turned artist (therefore a spring was part my stock and trade)  A chicken has the prime of their life and then they are gone, to a pasture or someone’s dinner table.  It might be a stretch for the change of seasons and a stretch for the jurists but, abstract work is entered into exhibitions all of the time and with some of those, you can do a headstand and not figure it out without the little card of explanation.  Love that type of art

This whole carving is solid but I am pretty proud that the old bird looks like he is teetering on the moment of springing off to head for some worms.

Do I wish that I won the contest, of course- winning is the only thing.  But I laughed and humour is an important thing.

12 Dec
Canadian Artist, soapstone, Soapstone sculpture, Uncategorized

Nothing wrong with tradition – black soapstone grizzly

There is everything wonderful about traditional or classic art.

In the case of my art, this black  Canadian soapstone grizzly.  The stone used for this grizzly is from Northern Quebec, the carver (me, is from Southern Ontario) .

The inspiration is simple; well fed grizzly in nature.  This guy is on the move and not ready for hibernation yet but, you can tell he must have had a successfully hunting season.  He doesn’t look particularly aggressive , I would say more majestic.  With the big head and limbs he is begging to be touched by onlookers and at least this bear won’t bite.

I would have to say that there is a depth to this black stone even though you can’t see it in photos.  There are some places in the rock that are darker than others, little natural lines in the stones that are not cracks..  The challenge with black soapstone as opposed to Brazilian, Asian or Indiana pipestone if there is one,  black stone is very hard.  Think granite.  Not very forgiving and requires very sharp tools.  From a technical  finishing point of view, he’s shiny because he has the protection of yes… wait for it… Clear Kote.  The protection every stone bear needs from dings and things that might happen when he is shown out in public.

As with any art or boy scout – be prepared.  It’s worth the effort to carve just the right bear with just the right attitude and it will speak to just the right client.

Sometimes it might be hard to give up a favourite piece but, when if this does happens, I go ahead and put the bear in inventory and price it , still consider it mine until sold (not usually at an outside gallery but on show in my home gallery)  This works for everyone I think.

Please visit the shop to see more of my finished work, and thank you for coming by.