The "Cor Liberum" birds are taking shape!

It has been a while since I have posted. This is largely due to the fact that I have been working late on getting the birds for "Cor Liberum" roughed out so I can bring them from the studio home. I prefer to carve at home when I can. I have the smallest one done. and last night, I really made progress on the largest. The wings still need to be thinned out some, but it is well on its way towards finishing out.

The largest of the "Cir Liberum" birds (upside down). The wing span is o little over 4 feet.

Unloading the "small" block - only 5000 lbs

So when Rick called me to let me know he was on his way to the studio he asked "Did you know you were getting 2 stones?" No, I did not know I was getting two stones. I knew about the 24000 pounder. I also knew I had two 17000 pound stones that were going to come sometime next month. I asked how heavy the small stone was the second stone. I knew how much work I had in getting the first one cut 24000 pounder cut down and knew I did not have room for the 17000 pounder yet. He said, "Its a small one...its only 5000 pounds." I breathed a sigh of relief. I told him to bring it on down. I could manage that. 

It was just 6 years ago that I started back carving stone and I thought 150 pounds was WAY too heavy!

"Cor Liberum" has really kicked off!

My commission for the Audubon Campus of Norton Hospital really got off to a running (or should I say Lifting) start this past week. I received a 24000 pound stone that will be transformed into the birds for the sculpture experience. After a few delays, I am very excited to be under way. Now, the "heavy lifting" of carving begins. This video is a little sped up so you can actually see progress!

"If The Spirit Is Willing" is featured in the magazine "Southern Indiana Living"

Its one thing to have your work make it into a magazine...quite another to have a full page photo of your work at the start of an article about the sculpture show it is part of!

I was thrilled to receive a call from a friend telling me that she had picked up a bunch of "Southern Indiana Living" magazine and was bringing them to me because it had an article about the show I had help to organize. When she told me that it had a full spread featuring my sculpture "If The Spirit Is Willing", I was over the moon. It is always an honor when you are recognized for the hard work it takes to produce your art. To have it featured so prominently is amazing!

New Chisels from Trow and Holden

In todays news...I received 2 new stone carving chisels in the mail today! I know many would ask whats the big deal, but for me, I am in heaven when I get new tools. I decided to get some larger tools to work on "Cir Liberum". I hope these tools will help me fly through the stone!! The toothed chisel is 2.5" wide. the Flat is 1.25" wide. I will let you all know how well they carve in a bit. (I know you can't wait for the update!!)

A Sculptors Heaven

Some may say that the picture below is boring. Some may say, "That looks like a lot of nothing". I say, "I am in heaven!!"

Two weeks ago, I went with a friend of mine and fellow sculptor, Karen Terhune to pick out the quarry rocks for my commission "For Liberum". We drove a short way up to just outside Bedford, Indiana to the quarries of Indiana Limestone Company. We met with Brent Blackwell, the best quarry man in the business, to pick out the blocks for the commission. The pictures are of just a few of the blocks that are available.

As you look at the photos, the blocks you see are mostly 25000 to 32000 pounds. Thats a big rock!!  The one with Karen standing next to it is a small rock. It is only 10000 pounds.

I picked out three blocks. They are 28000, 29000 and 32000 pounds. The quarry is going to do a few cuts for me to simplify the carving process. I will be receiving the blocks in a few weeks. I will post as they come in.

The Making of "If The Spirit Is Willing"

This is a short (2:30) time-lapse video showing the making of my latest monumental sculpture "If The Spirit Is Willing". I didn't start the time-lapse until after 4 days of carving, but the rest of the process is captured here. You can see the change over close to 50 clips representing about 43 days of carving. They are melded into one short movie.

This is a short time lapse video of roughly 45 days of carving on this 3000 pound block of Indiana Limestone to create "If The Spirit Is Willing", my latest monumental sculpture.