This sculpture
started as I talked with my client and my art agent about
their ideas and needs. Both agreed on needing a unique piece
of art that would blend with the natural feel of the interior
of a medical building located in South Dakota. The piece needed
to have an “earthy” feel, and ideally have some
connection with the heritage, history, and topography of the
state.
As I thought of various sculpture subjects, my mind turned
to the natural world of God’s creatures. Doing some
research, I came upon information about various animal species
what were either endangered or protected in South Dakota.
Some of these creatures were stunning in beauty: the Peregrine
Falcon (raptor), the Northern Redbelly Dace (fish), and the
Dakota Skipper (butterfly). Better yet, their form and coloration
lent well to recreation in wood. In continuing conversation,
we settled on a sculpture of the Peregrine Falcon, a beautiful
bird of prey that is on both the Federal and State Endangered
Species Lists. As I found more and more pictures of this raptor,
I was captivated by the unique and variegated plumage.
As a smaller bird of prey, the Peregrine is incredibly agile.
It boasts an aggressive and swift dive when seeking its next
meal. This was the feel I wanted to give this piece. The slant
and composition of the wood, including the angles of the zebrawood
grain “feathers” all contribute to this motion.
At the same time, I didn’t want the sculpture to be
so representational as to leave nothing to the viewer’s
imagination. So, I abstracted the head and beak, along with
the general layout and density of the feathers. The overall
feel is full of motion and beauty.
The woods used in this piece lend well to the warm feel desired
by the client. Dark walnut with zebrawood accents provide
this warmth in both grain and color. Oak dowels and copper
pins make the piece sturdy while maintaining the feel of the
wood. The overall feel is “earthy” to match South
Dakota’s prairie feel and the building’s interior.
There are no stains used in this sculpture – the colors
and textures are just as God created these beautiful woods.
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