GREETINGS and thank you
for your interest in my art!
I was born in 1952 in the
Minnesota and grew up on
a dairy farm just south of
the Minnesota/Iowa state
line. After graduating high
school I joined the United
States Air Force. After seven
years visiting locations such as Korea, Thailand, England, California, Texas and Colorado, I decided to give civilian life a try. I returned to Minnesota and worked in residential construction until 1984. In January of 1984 I could no longer resist the lure of the West, and moved to Colorado, where I continue to work in the residential construction field.
I have always felt the creative call, but not until I married in 1990 did the opportunity present itself to follow the call. As a woodworking hobbyist, I had a house full of furniture and with wood prices rising, my interests turned to carving. Not being satisfied with anything easy, my first foray into carving was a working 30-figure replica of a G.A. Dentzel carousel. Moving from wooden rocking horses to figuratives, an acquaintance who is also a high school art teacher suggested I try sculpting. The love affair began!
A chance encounter with Walt Horton, a famed and very talented sculptor, taught and continues to teach me the importance of anatomy and that "good enough" is not good enough. Other than the tutelage of Walt, workshops at the Loveland (Colorado) Academy of Fine Arts and being intensely aware of my surroundings, I consider myself to be mostly self-taught.
My Scandinavian background provided the Viking as safe subject matter for my first bronze figurative sculpture with the intent of seeking a commission from my hometown. I later learned the City Park in the town was appropriately named "Viking Memorial Park", and the commission just seemed to be destined. Thus my first bronze sculpture, titled "Quest" to honor the Scandinavian pioneers, was enlarged to life-size and installed during the Syttende Mai celebration in May 2000. For this sculpture I have been featured in several newspapers, including the Rochester (Minn.) Post-Bulletin, the LaCrosse (Wisc.) Tribune and acclaimed on a Rochester, MN television station.
From QUEST, I was commissioned to do another life-sized bronze, "Ola and Per", now installed in the same park, continuing to honor the town's and my ancestors.
The Gallery is always growing. Recent additions include "Coolin' the Dogs", "Ten Gallons of Trouble" and a
still-untitled piece "(Polo Player)". Take a peak and let me know what you think; I value your input.
I have found myself torn between my heritage and rural upbringing and love for the West and Western art. My
solution: follow my heart when selecting subject matter.
THANKS for visiting! - Craig
