Summer 2013
An exclusive online publication by Eternal Sun Studios
Loveland Sculpture Inviational 2013
Looking Ahead..……………………………..………..…..4 Sculpture Highlight: Drops in Ether...………...………….6 Four Years and Kickin’: LSI 2013..……………………..10 Sculpture Highlight: Just Hanging Around…………...…14 Playing with Fire………………………………………...16 Upcoming Events………………………………………..18 Go To Louisville………………………………………...19 Contact Weston………………………………………….20 Visit Eternal Sun Studios online by clicking one of the icons below:
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Looking Ahead
While you never know for sure how things are actually going to play out, I’m really looking forward to pursuing some new ideas as I come into the fall. There’s a wide array of sculptures I’m itching to create. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get to some of them, but I suppose that’s not a bad problem to have. I’ve recently taken to doing a lot of sketches of ideas. Like the one above, a lot of them are more me playing around with concepts, but every now and then one really takes. I’m really looking forward to branching out and starting to sculpt some birds, particularly owls, as well as sculpting some reptiles I’ve been wanting to for quite a long time. The sketch on the right is a good example of an idea that’s taken hold as the result of some doodling. The plan is to create a clock in bronze with a stained glass face. The time will be indicated with lights that rotate with corresponding cells of the glass. I’m still debating on what sort of wildlife will become a part of the final composition, but at the moment I’m leaning toward an owl.
Another idea I’ve been kicking around involves doing a series of sculptures entitled, “An Existential Crisis.” The idea is to have a little fun at the expense of how seriously art tends to take itself. I won’t give away too much right now, but when I do start the series the humor is something I’m really looking forward to incorporating.
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As to shows and exhibitions, there’s a few I’ve already applied for that I’m really hoping to be accepted to. I’m also going to be launching a new project on USAProjects.org that’s a little bit smaller in scope and again incorporating some humor. If you happen to follow my blog and have seen some of my satire posts you’ve probably noticed I enjoy a little bit of tongueincheek cynicism. I’m also going to be starting an Eternal Sun Studios annu al tradition for this holiday season. I’m really looking forward to actually sharing what that’s going to be, but I’m going to keep some suspense going for now.
Sometimes my ideas just emerge as I sit down and start sketching. Like the clock sketch above.
Sculpture Highlight:
“Drops in Ether” Last October I started work on the most ambitious project of my career to date. Like my previous multimedium sculpture, “Edge of Time,” production of “Drops in Ether” moved by leaps and bounds a little bit at a time. Its completion is truly a milestone in my career. The idea came to me when I was playing around in my sketchbook. Having recently finished “Edge of Time” and “All But Lost” I knew I wanted to create more work that explored the aesthetic of combing abstract elements and stained glass with the realism characteristic of my sculptures. The sphere is of interest to me for several reasons, one of them simply being that it’s a fairly hard shape to work with in sculpture at a larger scale. In terms of the sculpture itself there are several ideas at work. Before a modern understanding of astronomy and space itself existed, space was regarded as something called ether. The idea was basically that all that space had to be filled with something, a concept that really analogized space to the ocean.
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One of the greatest challenges of sculpting “Drops in Ether” was that it’s completion occurred in phases. Aside from a sketch, there was no way of looking at a complete version of the
That’s a parallel I’ve always been fascinated by. The spheres and the glass panels are central to how I chose to try and represent that concept. In one sense, the spheres are like drops in water. The other aspect of the analogy is a little more complex. You may have noticed I like spheres, right? They reflect what I regard as an amazing property of the physics of our universe . Some of the smallest structures exist as spheres: The nucleus of an atom, orbited by electrons. Yet some of the largest do as well: Planets orbiting the sun—galaxies. What is it about this form in space and time that makes it so prevalent, or rather what is it about the universe that makes this so? It points me toward a picture of design and intent in the very core of all that exists.
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The spheres and glass panels represent this idea as well—an ever expanding spherical geometry the more one widens or narrows their gaze. The sea turtles turned out to be a really fitting animal for the composition. I really enjoyed trying to create a fluid sense of motion. When my wife and I were on our honeymoon in Molokai, Hawaii we got the chance to go snorkeling with the sea turtles. It was seriously one of the most amazing experiences of my life. One was so close we al most could have reached out and touched it. Another fun detail about this piece is that the glass panels all light up, especially in low light. As it’s intended for display outside as much as in, I really liked the idea of creating a work of art that somehow changes at night or in the dark. Drops in Ether 2013 Edition of 10 5’ x 12” x 12” Patina and glass by Weston Contact for Pricing
Four Years and Kickin’ Loveland
It’s hard to believe that my fourth year at the Loveland Sculpture Invitational has already come and gone. I’ve said it before, but this show truly is one of the big highlights of my year and a lot of my calendar revolves around preparing for it. I don’t currently do any other shows in which I am actually present and interacting with people looking at my work or other artists. It really is a lot fun. I have to laugh a little when I think back to my first appearance in 2010. While some of the work I still show appeared in that show, my presentation wasn’t nearly as refined. This year it was great to be in a place allowing me to focus on my booth design instead of rushing to complete work—although I was still putting the finishing touches on a few sculptures just days before. After four years I’ve definitely gained a feel for the logistics so the stress of set up and preparation aren’t really there anymore. Believe it or not, getting everything ready to go is a huge undertaking and during the week of the show, I’m not doing much else.
I enjoy reconnecting with artists I’m becoming better acquainted with and meeting new ones. It’s funny too: There are definitely patrons and collectors at the show I know, but there’s also familiar faces you see in the crowds year after year. Every year it feels like there’s a stronger reception to my work, which is very encouraging for me. Sometimes I feel daunt ed at my age and the way I stack up against other artists who are already in the midst of long and successful careers. While I am a firm believer that an artist has to be true to themselves, I also believe if you’re serious as a professional your work has to speak to an audience. One of the biggest highlights of this show was the chance to unveil “Drops in Ether.” I very much enjoyed seeing the reactions it got as people went by. Often at the show you find that since there is so much art to see, the crowds sort of meander through tents without stopping. “Drops in Ether” got a lot of attention, stopping viewers on their trek.
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While I enjoy a lot of the traditional bronze sculptures out there, one of the goals in my work is to create something that hasn’t been seen before. There’s times I have to laugh because there certainly are some people who cringe when they see my rattlesnake teakettle, or who make a face when they notice all the reptiles. At the same time I have quite a few people who tell me they aren’t really that interested in the reptiles but are still drawn to other elements of my work. I always feel very complimented in hearing either. There’s nothing quite like the chance to actually get to chat with people who have come some place specifically to
look at something you’ve created. When they’re enthusiastic about work you’ve done it’s almost surreal in a very pleasant kind of way. While a lot of my sculptures aren’t necessarily “about something,” they do reflect something that resonates with me or is meaningful in some way. It’s re ally cool to see when that happens to be something that resonates with another person. I walked away from this year’s show feeling more inspired than ever to push ahead with my new ideas and plans. I don’t really have another time during the year in which all I’m focused on for about a week is art. It never fails to spark my creativity and shift my focus in a very positive way.
This year I really have to thank my sister. Her help was invaluable in preparing for the show. I was involved in a minor car accident a bout a month before, which made it difficult to complete some of my metal work. I also own a tremendous amount of thanks to my amazing wife. She truly is my muse. Her insights, feedback, and suggestions are invaluable with my individual sculptures, setting up at the show, and in so many other ways. Lastly, I have to express that having Jim Moore as my mentor and friend as I’ve pursued and grown my business has been amazing. If you haven’t, you really need to check out his work at www.sculpturebyjgmoore.com
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Sculpture Highlight: “Just Hanging Around” “Just Hanging Around” is another sculpture I began working on in fall of last year. Originally the intent was to fit a small glass panel in the middle of the structure the frog is sitting on top of, but once I finished I decided I liked it just as it is. The frog itself is a Waxy Monkey Tree frog, which is a species I’ve actually kept. They are fascinating creatures, taking their name from an actual wax they secrete to seal in moisture as are open, when actually awake, a clear they live in a very arid climate. The other half protective lid slips down, their pupils of their name comes from the fact waxies don’t expand to take up the full span of the really hop, but rather walk a lot like a monkey. eye and it opens much wider. Click The one depicted here is actually asleep. Here to see a video of mine waking up During the day, waxies find a sunny spot to plop to hunt a cricket. down and bask. Despite the fact that their eyes Getting the shape of the head right was pretty tough, and the final fix came about in a funny way. Knowing better, I was working on the piece in a high traffic spot of our home. One evening my wife accidentally bumped the clay and knocked it off the table. Needless to say she was confused when I cracked up and thanked her. It turned out the fall had reshaped a section of the head I’d been struggling to get right for quite some time. The patina was a lot of fun as the abstract form really gave me a chance to try some new techniques. “Just Hanging Around” Edition of 50 2013 Patina by Weston Contact for Pricing
Playing With Fire
Two years ago my wife and I purchased African Fire Skinks. We own a mated male and female. As far as reptiles go they make terrific pets. They’re very active, and believe it or not, have a lot of personality. Owning them actually swayed my wife’s opinion on reptiles. She, like a lot of people, didn’t realize that lizards at lest can have a lot of complex social behaviors. So while you can’t exactly do something like play fetch with a lizard, they have a lot more going on than you might think. This summer our pair laid eggs, which hatched the week of the Loveland Sculpture Invitational. Both hatchlings are healthy and growing, and like their parents are already a lot of fun to watch. Keeping reptiles is something that’s always been of interest to me for a lot of reasons. Fire Skinks in particular are not widely studied, so it’s an opportunity to learn first hand and pioneer scientific knowledge. I also enjoy it because they are animals that you don’t have much chance of seeing otherwise. It’s like being let in on something hidden away from the rest of the world, something that isn’t ordinary. That’s one reason they are a
sculptural subject matter I’m really drawn to. This year I’m actually going to be sculpting our Fire Skinks. I’ve been planning to ever since we bought them, but hadn’t settled on the composition. One day a few months ago I saw the pair hunting a cricket and it was a very picturesque moment. I’ll be starting on that in the near future! Since I’m discussing the ownership of exotic reptiles, I do have to say this: If you purse the purchase and keeping of an exotic, make absolutely sure you do thorough research on their care and needs, and make sure the animals you buy are captive bred.
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Upcoming Events
Canon City Public Exhibition Canon City, Colorado Come see “Drops in Ether” on display for one year in Canon City. The sculpture was invited to be a part of this exhibition during the 2013 Loveland Sculpture Invitational. More information to come, but the sculpture will be placed either on main street or the art center’s sculpture garden. This is my first public exhibition.
Pending Shows: Contained: Teapots, Functional to Whimsical and Beyond Longmont, Colorado
Celestial Seasoning’s teakettle art exhibition. Needless to say a show I’m really hoping to make it in to!
CSArt Colorado
If selected for this show I’ll be producing 60 miniature sculptures of Colorado reptiles and amphibians in plastic based clays.
Is Something Missing? Was there a piece you remember from another issue, or were hoping to see this time? While Heliosphere is not a catalogue of Weston’s complete bronze portfolio, we are happy to direct you to one or send an electronic copy. Please note hard copies are only available by special request and may associate a small surcharge for printing expenses. If you have any questions about a sculpture you’ve in another issue, don’t hesitate to contact Weston.
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Go To Louiseville! Don’t forget to visit Creations art gallery in Louisville Colorado. You can see some of my bronze portfolio there, as well as a lot of other great artwork! Art openings and events take place the first Friday of every month, check it out! 940 Main Street, Louisville, 80027 By the way, if you find yourself in Louisville and happen to like Italian food, you absolutely must, and I stress must, got to Zuccas. It is the best Italian food I have had anywhere in the US , and their prices are unbelievably good as well.
Contact Weston at weston.brownlee@gmail.comEternal Sun Studios is a fine art production and representation company. Our services include: Commissioned Sculpture Mold Making and Metal Chasing Patina for Bronze Artist Agent, and Social Media/Marketing Consultant All uncredited materials in Heliosphere are the exclusive property of Weston Brownlee and Eternal Sun Studios and are thereby protected by copyright laws.