Clay Sculpture

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  Clay Sculpture "Lady Clove,"  

At the base of the clay sculpture is a high-relief wall art that forms a portrait depicted as radiating energy and complemented by the sun and moon.

This awesome sculpture is modeled from stoneware clay and mounted on a natural bluestone wall sourced from the Catskill Mountains. It is constructed in hollow sections, reinforced with tie rods, and filled with cement to enhance its stability.

Ceramic Sculpture "Beowulf"

A ceramic sculpture representing Beowulf, a character from an epic poem written in Old English, stands prominently at the entrance of my home. Beowulf is known for his extraordinary strength and noble spirit as he confronts malevolent creatures and bravely faces the shadows threatening our peace. This sculpture symbolizes bravery and unwavering courage and is dedicated to the quest to protect my sanctuary.

The 3D sculpture is expertly crafted from high-fired stoneware clay and showcases hollow sections that are skillfully assembled using concrete filler and reinforcement bars. 

Ceramic Portrait of "Laurel"

Fred developed portrait carving skills by teaching the Bust in Clay for over ten years with hands-on experience.  Engaged in one of his most cherished classes, he undertook this clay portrait project as a demonstration exercise. Once again, Laurel serves as the inspiration for this artistic endeavor. 

The clay skin, with its ideal 2-inch thickness, forms the perfect body for the project. Hollow, with a cement core, is designed to support a large ceramic flower pot on the head, providing a fertile ground for creativity and Petunias to bloom. 

In 1973, we had the pleasure of meeting John Gardner, an author, scholar, philosopher, and arts patron. The New York Times critically acclaimed reviews of his book *Grendel* prompted the commission of a dragon sculpture. In this piece, the dragon is perched high in a silver maple tree, offering advice to anyone willing to listen, in contrast to the monster's lair in the novel.  

The dragon's skin is crafted from salt-glazed stoneware clay and is assembled in sections. It has a reinforced concrete interior, resulting in a dragon that combines a cement core with a clay exterior. Standing at seven feet eight inches tall and positioned high in a tree, it offers a vantage point that is visible from a second-story balcony.

In 1982, we were inspired to create a ceramic statue, "Sphinx," for Thinker Street in Woodstock, NY, commissioned by John Protus. The statue stood proudly across from the Woodstock Guild and Woodstock Artists Association.

 The 3D ceramic sculpture "Sphinx," located at the intersection of Tinker Street and Mill Hill Road, was destroyed by two intoxicated individuals after being in place for 15 years.  

Pottery Wheel Sculpture

Approximately 350 lbs. of clay is carefully stacked to avoid trapping air bubbles and left to become leather-hard. The old Randolph kick wheel rose to the challenge.

The pottery wheel was utilized as a lathe during the leather-hard trimming process. The half globes were secured with metal dowels and industrial epoxy after firing.

At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Fred worked on creating large abstract clay sculptures. However, the ceramics studio did not have a kiln big enough for these larger pieces, forcing him to look for new ways to build his sculptures.

 As a result, Fred had to meticulously design his sculptures in sections. Each component was crafted separately, allowing for careful planning. After the individual pieces were fired in the smaller kiln, he would assemble them into the final artwork. 

Each clay abstract sculpture displayed here is over 4 feet tall and requires assembling the separately fired section by inserting metal dowels cemented with industrial PC-7 epoxy.