 Children's
art is captivating. When I look at a drawing or
painting made by a child, it is
 often
the feeling of the piece that strikes me first.
What children understand intuitively cannot always
be expressed with words.
Through art they
show us how they see and experience the world.
I am drawn to the natural, untrained, and effortless
qualities in their art. The uninterrupted
flow in their work inspires me as an
artist. Even in a child's finished drawing, much
is left to the imagination; the final product
retains some mystery. When I look at a child's
artwork, I seem to recognize its spirit and it
stirs my own creativity.
I
imagine what the child may be imagining or seeing,
and I envision how it would look if it were enlarged
and made of different metals. My
re-creations, though larger, maintain the elements
of design, proportion, and dimension of the original
image. While I make my own artistic choices, I
strive to capture the essence of the child's work.
What is the nature of this collaboration? Am I
translating the piece, amplifying it, or transforming
it? I have not yet found the
word for what actually happens, but I do know
that I feel a relationship between myself and
the young artist, between the original piece and
the
impetus to re- create
it in metal. This collaboration, if this is
what it is, extends to include the person who
commissions the sculpture as well.
As
a weldor and a sculptor, I understand the properties
of metals and choose carefully those that will
work for each drawing or painting. I use aluminum,
bronze,
stainless steel, copper, and copper nickel. I
love how metals catch the light and change throughout
the day. Metals, like a child, mature and have
a life of their
own. Paint, lacquer, and patinas can be added
to create a particular effect or to maintain
luster over time. Texture and shape can be
etched into the metal to echo the original
qualities in the drawing or painting.
 Dimensions
of the finished piece can vary.
Perhaps
you have a drawing that a child dear to you has
created that you would like to have made into
a larger permanent artwork. Or maybe you would
like to give a
sculpture of your child's artwork to a grandparent
or other family member, or to the child him/her
self. You may even be interested in having a childhood
work of your own rendered in metal so it can be
displayed in your home or garden.
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If
this kind of magical transformation interests
you, please click on the elephant to the left
to see more. |
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