A week ago I purchased a walnut slab, 2 inches thick, 13 inches wide, and 4 feet long.

Four prime pieces of walnut were cut from this slab and shaped to be used as bases for forthcoming sculptures. At the moment I am in a creative mood and looking forward to finishing a number of new works.

Some of these works were mentioned in my previous post related to my slowdown in 2023 due to Covid-19. Some ideas have also changed.

Bloodwood Eagle

This sculpture will be mounted on bloodwood. This is a dense red wood from South America. I was able to purchase two inch thick rounds which were glued together into one piece. Millwork may be placed on the edge to hide the seam if necessary. I am curious to see how this bloodwood turns out when used as a base for a bronze eagle sculpture?

The eagle has yet to be molded and sculpted into wax. This will likely happen in 2025.

Bronzezeit (German for Bronze Age)

This sculpture is being reworked. I had originally cast the woman holding the cooking pot and sword in a Wonder Woman context. I have now recast the woman in a similar form and I will use a brown patina on this sculpture to portray her as she looks in my Spiegelbild im Spiegel sculpture (German for reflection in mirror in mirror).

The problem with the original sculpture was the stone base was too large and heavy. I will now put the amethyst on a 9 inch walnut round that has yet to be purchased.

The Bear Den

This is another sculpture of my three bears. This piece was the residue from the amethyst cut for Chuck’s Amethyst Mine sculpture that follows. It is ideal for this bear den sculpture.

The walnut for this base has been cut. It will be planed down to about an inch to an inch and a half in thickness.

Encased Stallion

This sculpture is a revision of the previous stallion sculpture I had proposed in my Covid-19 posting. I had first thought to put the stallion in front of the amethyst geode and position flowers within the geode but on reflection I realized that the 12 inch cherry round I had planned for the base was not large enough for the full sculpture.

I have since abandoned the flower idea for this sculpture and instead decided to position the stallion within the geode. The notion that the horse is encased within the amethyst is the contrast that I like to explore in my art.

The walnut base has been cut and sized for this amethyst geode. I think that this sculpture, when complete, will appeal as a western sculpture, possibly for the the Calgary Stampede 2025.

Dead and Alive

I have previously cast this bird skeleton as a pirate sculpture. This time I want to contrast the dead bird skeleton by putting it inside a birds nest that signifies birth and new life. This work aligns with my amethyst theme as the geode I am using simulates an egg shell.

This sculpture will be set on another 9 inch walnut round that has yet to be purchased..

Sunken Pirate Ship

This sculpture will be part of my 2025 planned works. It is my intention to adapt and cast this pirate ship in bronze. I also will fit an old 1890 era NCR cash register clock to the stern of the ship. These clocks were used to record employee work time for the business. This will be a unique bronze casting showcasing a very rare and unique bronze cast working clock.

It is my intention to fabricate the sails in sheet copper. The trick here will be to roll the copper sheet into a tight form.

The walnut base for this sculpture has already been created.

Chuck’s Amethyst Mine

I cut one of my amethyst geodes so as to create a new mining sculpture similar to McBride’s Mountain. This piece again features the mining cart I modeled after the old wooden cart discovered by Chuck McBride in the old gold mines of California, and the 1890’s prospector that I cast in bronze.

This sculpture, named Chuck’s Amethyst Mine, will be a matched set with McBride’s Mountain. I have cut the walnut base to match and the sculpture will be of the same size.

There will be an ore cart on the tracks; it is not shown.