Howdy! 

The Process of Creating Great Art 

by Mary Hone, Hones Design Studio

How does a sculpture get from this, to this? As a sculptor, Al Hone will start with an idea, a general feeling of what he wants the piece to convey. Will this next piece be wildlife, people, or maybe a combination of the two?

He starts by building an armature to support the clay as he works. The size of the sculpture, determines how much support will be needed. He then starts adding the clay to the support. Al sculpts everything from the inside out, this enables him to get the anatomy correct. He will sculpt the muscles first, no matter if it's a person that will have clothing on, or an animal. Then the skin or outer layer of fur or feathers is added. Texture is very important in the sculpting of animals. If you look at animals in the wild, their fur is ruffled, and not every feather is exactly the same. The best wildlife sculptors will create animals that look like real animals, ruffled feathers, fur and everything. Giving the animals movement, and feeling is all part of the design process. How many sculptures have you seen were the animal is just standing there? Not very exciting. Movement and life are very important in wildlife sculpture. 

Sculpting people is the same way. Humans have character, feelings, and emotions. Capturing all that in a sculpture is what draws the art lover to a piece. Have you ever walked into a gallery and been immediately drawn to a certain work of art? Did it touch on your emotions somehow? That is what makes great art...

After the clay sculpture is done, it's taken to a foundry where it becomes the beautiful bronze you see in the gallery. A rubber mold is made from the clay, it's encased in hard plaster to help hold the shape. Hot wax is then poured into the mold. After it hardens and is removed, a person called a chaser will go over the wax and make sure it is perfect. The wax is then repeatedly dipped in slurry which hardens on the outside. The wax is melted out of the slurry mold and hot bronze is poured in. Once the bronze hardens the slurry mold is removed. If the sculpture is large or has several small pieces, the mold will be done in sections. These sections will be welded back together once the bronze is cast. Then the edges are cleaned up, and everything is checked to make sure it is correct to the original mold. It will then go to the patina department. Al will go to the foundry for this process to make sure the colors are what he envisioned for the piece. And a new work of art is ready to be enjoyed...  

Read the whole story on our blog and check out Al's beautiful work on TheWesternVault.com! 

 

Hones Design Studio
Santaquin, Utah

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Art Imitates Life, or Vice Versa?

by Michael Moore, RCC Western Stores 

In 1975, I was a pimply 16 year old kid experiencing growing pains. My parents had divorced years earlier and my mother married a rancher: I was thrust into the role of "reluctant cowboy." I enjoyed it for the most part, but couldn't wait any longer to begin my inevitable climb to rock and roll superstardom. My testosterone-addled brain perceived this set of circumstances as holding me back from my destiny. I needed to get out of Wyoming and get started. It would be only a few more months before I would pack a bag, set off for the city, and never look back. Never again would I wear western clothes, cowboy boots, or hats, cut my hair short, or be responsible for any animals. I was all chored-out!

That was a long time ago. After several years in the music business, ironically, I settled down in the Black Hills of South Dakota, just 70 miles from that ranch I was so desperate to leave behind. No fame, no fortune, but, no regret.

The usual chain of circumstance, accident, and good fortune led to a desk job with RCC Western Stores, one of the top western wear retailers in the U.S. The absurdity of this did not go unrecognized by me! That stage of my life was something I had tried to escape, and did, and now here I was plopped right back where I had left off 35 years ago.

Upon starting the job, I was reminded immediately what country folks are; friendly, fair, serene, hard-working nature lovers, optimistic yet realistic.   And I was reintroduced to the western art displayed in the office. It reminded me of the art I grew up with but had deleted from my memory; serene, depicting hard work, nature-themed, realistic ... hmmmm.

I believe that the two are inextricably linked, country people and western art, one influencing the other, a chicken-or-the-egg enigma. At any rate, and somewhat to my surprise, it made me feel comfortable, as if I belonged here... 

Read the rest of Michael's story on our blog. Also, check out TheWesternVault.com to shop RCC's great inventory!

Michael Moore

RCC Western Stores

Texas Music Chart

Your Guide to Texas and Red Dirt Music

Jason Boland & the Stragglers take a big jump this week on the Texas Music Chart to grab the #1 spot with "Mary Ellen's Greenhouse." Brandon Rhyder is at #2 with "In the Country," followed by Reckless Kelly's "Good Luck and True Love" at #3. The Josh Abbott Band featuring Pat Green is at #4 with "My Texas," and Stoney LaRue is at #5 with "Velvet."

The Casey Donahew Band makes the biggest move this week on the Chart: "Double-Wide Dream" moves up 9 spots from #42 to #33.

New to the Chart this week is Cody Canada & the Departed with "Skyline Radio"; Bleu Edmondson is at #44 with "The Future Ain't What it Used to Be," and Grady Skelton hits #50 with "We Like Drinkin'."

New Inventory 

Spirit of the Tetons Hones Design Studio $15,000

Coral Running Horses "Neigh"cessories $95

News, Sales, & Events

 

TRUNK SHOW & SADDLE SALE AT SOUTH TEXAS TACK! 

South Texas Tack is hosting an Anderson Bean and Rios of Mercedes Trunk Show on October 21st and 22nd from 9am-5pm. Come out and design your own pair of  custom boots!

 

Also, South Texas Tack is hosting their annual Saddle Sale October 15-22. 20% off all in stock saddles!

 

South Texas Tack

Brenham, Texas

 

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