This is a progress shot of a female face I am working on. She is carved from soapstone. She will probably be mounted on a piece of white marble.
I am, trying to finish up this fountain by the end of September.I started it back in September of last year, but have not been able to work consistently on it for the whole time. I have also gone overboard on the leaves. I really like the look of the leaves, but it has taken a lot more time because of how complicated I made it.
Progress Shot of the Carving of an Indiana Limestone Fountain by Mike McCarthy
I have been invited to participate in a show at Revelry Gallery in Louisville, KY titled “ALT”. The concept behind the show is to creat a work of art using unexpected materials.I have carved a human eye into the books. It was pretty easy to carve, but the sanding has been very difficult. However, it is all sanded and ready to get a cleat inserted in the back so it ready to hang in the show.
I have been invited to participate in a show at Revelry Gallery in Louisville, KY titled “ALT”. The concept behind the show is to creat a work of art using unexpected materials.I have carved a human eye into the books. The outside of the eye is sanded. I just have to finish sanding the eyeball and the iris and this is done. It was pretty easy to carve, but the sanding has been very difficult.
I have been invited to participate in a show at Revelry Gallery in Louisville, KY titled “ALT”. The concept behind the show is to creat a work of art using unexpected materials. So, my new sculpture will be carved from old encyclopedias that I have joined together to create one surface.
I had a piece that I completed about a year ago that I titled “Peace Lilly” that I really liked. I have wanted to do another similar one ever since I traded that one. That piece was not a vessel as it was open all the way through. This one, is truly a vessel. I am in the sanding phase of the piece now. I will be sanding this one all the way to 400 grit paper just like “Peace Lilly” and then putting a high polish in it.
I had a piece that I completed about a year ago that I titled “Peace Lilly” that I really liked. I have wanted to do another similar one ever since I traded that one. That piece was not a vessel as it was open all the way through. This one, is truly a vessel. I am in the sanding phase of the piece now. I will be sanding this one all the way to 400 grit paper just like “Peace Lilly” and then putting a high polish in it.
This guy was carved as a submission for a sculpture competition. However, I did not win the commission. So, I have put a polish on him and put him in the gallery. This is at:
Kentucky Fine Art Gallery
2400 C Lime Kiln Lane
Louisville, KY 40222
The client chose a different artist for the commission. So I decided to go ahead and polish this horse head and put it in the gallery.
I finished the Indiana Limestone horse head and it is ready for the interview on Tuesday. If they like it and choose my piece, this will be turned into a 5’tall piece.
I am making steady progress on a new Indiana Limestone horse head sculpture. This piece is a large version moquette for a commissioner which I been invited to apply. I did a clay model and they asked for a different type of mane. I have decided to make it a little more flowing than the clay model. I have to finish it for an August 7th interview. No pressure!!
I started a new sculpture a few days ago. This is a moquette for a commission I have been invited to interview for. I did a clay model for the initial invite. I made it to the final round and am doing this for the next interview. This started as a 250 pound block of limestone. It is roughly 18” tall x 18” wide x 9” wide. The interview is in August so I am ahead of schedule.
I started a new piece two days ago, this Indiana Limestone Horse Head. The block started off at around 250 pounds but has quickly lost weight. Stay tuned for additional progress photos and videos.
This Indiana limestone and steel sculpture was inspired by a wood sculpture I did several years ago. That one was more of a sphere. With this piece, I originally intended it to be round not oval. However, as I was carving, it started to really look cooler the more oval it got. the center hole is offset as well which I think provides some more interest.
The previous 5 photos show the progress on this piece. You can also take a look at my YouTube channel for a progress video (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLZ4k8l6V2l_otGckDxxQ5A?view_as=subscriber) to see progress videos.
A few more days of carving on this new piece, and the idea is progressing nicely. You are seeing it on its side right here. It will be on a steel post probably about 12” off the base. I am thinking that it will be sanded will on the outside with lines on the inside.
Check back often to see it as I move forward, or take a look at my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLZ4k8l6V2l_otGckDxxQ5A?view_as=subscriber) to see progress videos.
A few more days of carving on this new piece, and the idea is progressing nicely. You are seeing it on its side right here. It will be on a steel post probably about 12” off the base. I am thinking that it will be sanded will on the outside with lines on the inside.
Check back often to see it as I move forward, or take a look at my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLZ4k8l6V2l_otGckDxxQ5A?view_as=subscriber) to see progress videos.
After two days of carving on this new piece, I am starting to see the idea come to life. This piece will be a circular piece that has a twist in the middle. Check back often to see it as I move forward, or take a look at my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLZ4k8l6V2l_otGckDxxQ5A?view_as=subscriber) to see progress videos.
After two days of carving on this new piece, I am starting to see the idea come to life. This piece will be a circular piece that has a twist in the middle. Check back often to see it as I move forward, or take a look at my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLZ4k8l6V2l_otGckDxxQ5A?view_as=subscriber) to see progress videos.
While waiting for my Dalmatian to recover from an infection, I have suspended work on some larger work to be able to be in the
Several years ago, I started welding up an abstract sculpture of a sail boat. the plan was to have a piece of angle iron serve as the ship with a steel sail. I am really not doing any metal sculpture now, however, As I had this welded piece, I thought it would be nice to finish it. I have decided to try a limestone sail to see if that works with the rest of the sculpture. Stay tuned to see how it goes.
Several years ago, I started welding up an abstract sculpture of a sail boat. the plan was to have a piece of angle iron serve as the ship with a steel sail. I am really not doing any metal sculpture now, however, As I had this welded piece, I thought it would be nice to finish it. I have decided to try a limestone sail to see if that works with the rest of the sculpture. Stay tuned to see how it goes.
This figure will end up being about 2/3 scale. I am carving it from a block of Bottticino marble from Italy. It is slow going as I decided to do most of it by hand and only use the air hammer a little.
This is a really cool piece of alabaster I have had for about a year. It has such great color and dimension, all you have to do is cut some shapes and it works.
This is a really cool piece of alabaster I have had for about a year. It has such great color and dimension, all you have to do is cut some shapes and it works.
It started out as the leg of "Cor Liberum", then it took a turn as a stand alone piece. It has evolved into a very different piece form its beginning. Sometimes the rock determines its own path.
It started out as the leg of "Cor Liberum", then it took a turn as a stand alone piece. It has evolved into a very different piece form its beginning. Sometimes the rock determines its own path.
This piece started off as a part of the "Caregiver" in "Cor Liberum". When I stood it up, this book off the front leg. I think it is a cool shape, so I am gong to see what it tells me it wants to be.
The History Pillars and the benches are on site for my Norton Commission, "Cor Liberum". These are the last two elements. Nothing like pushing the schedule, the opening is in a little over a week.
I love this Bordiglio Marble piece I am working on. The only thing I don’t like about it is that it is a little difficult to hold an edge over some of the graining. But, it is worth it for such a beautiful stone.
I love this Bordiglio Marble piece I am working on. The only thing I don’t like about it is that it is a little difficult to hold an edge over some of the graining. But, it is worth it for such a beautiful stone.
This small sculpture is a split off piece from the Large figure I am working on. I love the graining of this marble. It may be a little distracting for the figure, but for this abstract, it is really beautiful.
The large figure for "Cor Liberum" is really moving along. Here is a short time lapse video to show the progress.
This is the small figure. It is right before I broke off a 1000 pound chunk of stone. I am using feathers and wedges to break off the large corner to save time as well as keeping a big chunk of off fall material to use for a different sculpture.
Progress shot of one of the birds for my Norton Healthcare commssion, "Cor Liberum"
Progress shot of the large central figure for my Norton Healthcare commssion, "Cor Liberum"
Progress shot of the large central figure for my Norton Healthcare commssion, "Cor Liberum"
Progress shot of the large central figure for my Norton Healthcare commssion, "Cor Liberum"
Progress shot of the small central figure for my Norton Healthcare commssion, "Cor Liberum".
Progress shot of the large central figure for my Norton Healthcare commssion, "Cor Liberum"
Very slow progress on this marble piece. She will be worth it, but it will take a while to get there.
Yes, that is a sculpture sitting in a trash can! In my quest to thin out a large scale Indiana Limestone sculpture, I broke the piece when my sander got caught in a curve that was too narrow for the tool. I was pretty upset at loosing several months of work that I couldn’t bring myself to try to salvage any piece of this one.
Even more progress on this Indiana Limestone sculpture.It is due in a week, so I need to finish up!
I am moving further down this Indiana Limestone sculpture. I have been really opening this piece up to lighten it up and give it an elegance. My ultimate goal will be to have this piece have the nice thin tails and curve you see in the top third of the piece. It is getting there, but it still has a journey in front of it.
I am moving further down this Indiana Limestone sculpture. I have been really opening this piece up to lighten it up and give it an elegance. My ultimate goal will be to have this piece have the nice thin tails and curve you see in the top third of the piece. It is getting there, but it still has a journey in front of it.
Really opening this piece up now. Still have about the bottom quarter to figure out. After that, I will start thinning out the pieces. My goal is for this to be a very light and elegant piece.
I am closing in on having all of the shapes figured out on this sculpture. Once I finish that part, I will really thin out the piece. I want this to have a really light feel even though it will weigh over 300 pounds when it is all finished.
I am closing in on having all of the shapes figured out on this sculpture. Once I finish that part, I will really thin out the piece. I want this to have a really light feel even though it will weigh over 300 pounds when it is all finished.
I am closing in on having all of the shapes figured out on this sculpture. Once I finish that part, I will really thin out the piece. I want this to have a really light feel even though it will weigh over 300 pounds when it is all finished.
I am closing in on having all of the shapes figured out on this sculpture. Once I finish that part, I will really thin out the piece. I want this to have a really light feel even though it will weigh over 300 pounds when it is all finished.
This guy has been moving along well. The top 2/3 is figured out. I am still working on how the bottom of the piece terminates. The current plan is to have about 2” squared off at the bottom. The piece will go on a 18” x 18” x 3’ limestone base. I can’t decide how much stone I want to get rid of at the bottom. I am leaning towards getting this guy pretty thin.
This Indiana Limestone piece is moving along nicely. It is roughly 4.75 feet tall and I am leaning towards putting it on a base that is 3’ tall. I really like the verticality of the piece. I want to get some more air in the bottom section as I move along, but in general, I am happy with the progression.
This Indiana Limestone piece is moving along nicely. It is roughly 4.75 feet tall and I am leaning towards putting it on a base that is 3’ tall. I really like the verticality of the piece. I want to get some more air in the bottom section as I move along, but in general, I am happy with the progression.
This Indiana Limestone piece is moving along nicely. It is roughly 4.75 feet tall and I am leaning towards putting it on a base that is 3’ tall. I really like the verticality of the piece. I want to get some more air in the bottom section as I move along, but in general, I am happy with the progression.
I am back to working on this piece. It need to sit and let me understand where it wanted to go. I think I have a better understanding. It is funny how stone communicates with you. Sometimes it says that it wants to go in a different direction. You just have to listen.
I have spent the last 7 months working almost exclusively on my Norton Commission, "Cor Liberum" That one is out of the studio, so I finally get to work on a different piece! All of the ideas in my head are about to explode if I don't get some of them in stone!!
I have spent the last 7 months working almost exclusively on my Norton Commission, "Cor Liberum" That one is out of the studio, so I finally get to work on a different piece! All of the ideas in my head are about to explode if I don't get some of them in stone!!
This is a new piece I am working on. It is a piece is Harvest Gold Alabaster. It is a beautiful piece and is carving really well.