Sacagawea - At Foundry

Today I finished up the clay of Sacajawea... or as her real name was pronounced, Sacagawea. I was looking for an additional bid on the cost of producing this piece so I took it to another foundry near Bozeman Montana to get a competing bid. I found I had to leave it overnight. So I'll be going back to the foundry tomorrow, and it's then, that I'll decide which foundry gets the clay, and the job of producing her in bronze.

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Final Photographs of the clay

My Studio Will Be Closed Till 2nd of October

Final Day on Sacagawea

Today I finished up the scene where Sacagawea steps into the Pacific Ocean. Repositioning her left arm, and then moving onto the reunion of her and her brother.
Then I cleaned up the clay using lighter fluid on a oil painters brush. I will be out of the studio for the next 5 Days. I will be back on October 1st or 2nd.

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The following photographs are of an artist friend of mine, Terry Freeman, painting a small trailer. She'll be selling this when she is done with the outside and the inside. It's going to be a great work of art.
Rusty Cowboy, Phone number 406-682-5439.

Sacajawea and the Pacific Ocean Today

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I re-did the figure of Sacagawea, or better known as, Sacajawea. It's the scene on the base of the bust that shows her the day she sees the "big water" for the first time. The following is a description of that day.
At an encampment near the coast, it was decided that only two canoes carrying a lucky few, would be the first to travel down-river to view the ocean's shoreline. On January 6, 1806 Lewis recorded in his log that Sacagawea insisted that she be selected among those chosen to first view the Pacific Ocean.
Lewis recorded in his journal that Sacagawea complained to him saying that she, "...had traveled a long way to see the great waters, and that now that monstrous fish [whales] was also to be seen, she thought it very hard..." if she was not selected among the first group. Sacagawea was granted this wish along with an equal voice in future decisions.

Sacajawea - Finishing up On Scene and Onto the Next

Today I put the finishing up touches on the abduction scene and then moved onto the reunion scene. I'm getting close to finishing this base. I decided to create the Lewis and Clark grouping in the reunion scene out of clay. It worked out well for me. Click on link below for the video.

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Final Photographs.

Sacajawea - The Abduction

The Abduction scene on the base of the Sacajawea bust is what I worked on today. Redoing the clay relief in wax. Detail work on this scale is very time consuming. Not even sure I'm capable to get high detail. But instead of saying I can't, I will do what I have to, to get this base to as good a quality as I'm capable of.

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Photos taken today.

Sacajawea - Working on the Base

I was feeling a bit under the weather today. I managed to get a few hours in today. I am re-doing parts of the relief on the base of Sacajawea.
Using wax I re-sculpt figures of Sacajawea and her brother.
Remember you can watch the video by clicking the link below.

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Hands Have It Today

Don't forget to click on the video link just above the photographs.
Today, I tightened up the detail on the two fully exposed hands on the Crow Indians. Adding enough detail to make them look like real hands. This finishes up the piece for now. I'll get back to the second Indian's face after I finish up the clay of Sacajawea. I'll start on her tomorrow.

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Click photographs to increase their size for better viewing.

Adjusting A Face Today

Today is my first time back in my studio in over a month. Took time to get the studio straighten around, then set up the clay to work on it.Adjusting the face of the second Crow Indian today.

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Back Roads of Montana

Sometimes delivering a bronze to a clients house can be a great adventure, with great rewards at the end of the trip. This was one of those deliveries on the back roads in the Bear Tooth Mountains of Montana south of Livingston Montana. It's about 80 miles from my home in Ennis.
This was a longer day on the road because my GPS was totally useless and kept leading me in the wrong direction. I finally found Mr. and Mrs. Dollens' home set in one of the most amazing parts of this western country.

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Parting Shots

Last Day of my Summer Shows

Drove to Elko Nevada yesterday from Tahoe City California. This morning I left early and drove the rest of the way home. Saw a fire on the way home and had 49 voice messages on my phone when I got home.

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Just a Little Drive

Didn't do much in the Gallery today. It was my last day, so I started loading my van with all but the clays. I'll load those in the van in the morning before I leave for Montana.
Went to Carson City Nevada this morning. On the way up the east shore of Lake Tahoe, I took this very short video.

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Next to Last Day in the Gallery

Tomorrow will be a very short day. I'll start packing up in the evening.
Today, I worked a few hours, and talked to a few people. No pictures to show, just the video at the link below.


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Mimosas in the Morning, Ribs and Chicken Tonight

Was invited over to a friends house this morning for Mimosas and breakfast. Took SOMEWHERE A COWBOY'S WALKIN over to their house. They wanted to see if it would fit into their house.
Then I headed back to the gallery for couple of hours before heading to a Barbecue Party tonight. Met some great people and ate some wonderful food on the Truckee River.

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Bronc Stompin

Started back working on Bronc Stompin today. Didn't get much videoing done though. Was to busy talking to people to pay attention to the camera. It was a great day though. Got invited to Barbecue tomorrow night.

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Finished up Fleshing In The Relief Today

Started today early. Had clients and friends stopping by, so wanted to be in the Gallery when they all came by.
Today I started the scene with Sacajawea again. I went to breakfast at the Rosie's Cafe here in Tahoe City and had a great breakfast. I drew a sketch on a napkin of how I wanted to position Sacajawea. So with sketch in hand I started out the day.

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From Reunion to the Ocean

Well I am close to finishing the scene with chief Cameahwait and his sister Sacajawea. I moved onto the panel that has Sacajawea dipping her toe in the Pacific ocean. I just barely got that sketched in before leaving the gallery tonight.

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Friends Stopped by the Gallery Today

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I know that this whole process is like watching grass grow. Sculpting takes time. Still on the scene with chief Cameahwait and his sister Sacajawea. Hope to get this scene done tomorrow. I started the figures of chief Cameahwait and Sacajawea over again, because having them in an embrace, wasn't working out. Sacajawea just didn't show up. So I separated the figures and had them just before the embrace. Then I started the figure of the Indian on horseback in the foreground.
Had Friends stop by this afternoon. Carroll Krause had never met me, but had purchased a buffalo piece of mine years ago and had followed my work for years. She heard I was in Tahoe and stopped by to see me for the first time.
Robert Merrell, and his wife also stopped by. He's a collector of my work and has a Museum in Reno. He's the gentleman sitting at my table in my video. Click link above to watch that.

A Brother and a Sister Meet - At least that's the Plan

Short day today. I finished up the scene in the Mandan Village and now I start fleshing in the next scene. The video link takes you to what I did today. I know this a slow laborious process. The results may well be worth it though.

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Photographs I found, showing Shoshone Indians.