Byur Gullwing
My major subject in college was Mechanical Engineering, and I graduated with a degree in M.E. from the University of Arizona. An engineer as an artist? Absurd!!! Right brain, left brain, etc. ad nauseum. I have found that the connection between the two disciplines is much closer than imaginable. My engineering education and experience have enabled me to design finished work that is structurally sound and durable. My artistic experience has flowed into an intimate understanding of mold making, casting, and machining of intricate mechanisms that most engineers and artists take for granted.
When I took my first sculpture class (part of my mid-life crisis), I knew that I wanted to produce finished bronzes, but I didn’t set out to become a figurative artist. As my experience widened, however, I began to gravitate to the beautiful creation that is the human body. My first human-based works were sculptures of faces, mostly bas-reliefs. As my skills developed, I began to do complete sculptures. The pivotal point, when I decided on lifecasting, was when I saw a photo of a sculpture of a famous actress, perfect in every dimension. I knew I had to learn the technique.
I always have an image in mind when I start a lifecast sculpture, but the finished product is seldom very close to the initial concept. Before the cast is started, I know the pose that I want for the model, but when the plaster cast is done, I then develop more in-depth ideas and detailed images of the finished sculpture.
I dont like to explain a certain piece of sculpture – hopefully it can speak for itself and send a message to the viewer. Each viewer takes something a little different from the same piece and I’m happy with that.
My influences are the wonderful science fiction artist Boris Vallejo and comic artists Fastner and Larson, but I get some of my best ideas from my models, who inspire poses I would never imagine. My artistic expression has been developed in response to the fantastic input of my sculpture instructor and friend, Ted Uran of Scottsdale Community College. My confidence in my work is due to the encouragement of my daughter, Alli, and my wonderful, loving, patient, understanding wife, Kathy. My Thanks to all of you.
Personal portrait sculpture is my specialty. I create exact sculptural images of faces, torsos, and hands by means of lifecasting, the technique of building a negative mold of the person, then using various materials to create the finished product. I love the human form in all its beauty, variety, and complexity. The human body is a subject that never ceases to delight and intrigue the artist. My finished pieces can be of a wide variety of materials, from plaster, fiberglass reinforced gypsum, aluminum, or bronze. Some pieces are made from cold-cast (metal powders mixed with epoxy) copper, brass, bronze, or nickel-steel. I also work in cast iron, transparent plastic, ceramic, and I have completed two glass torso projects.
Twenty some odd years ago, on a long weekend in Sedona, my wife and I were touring the galleries, when I said to her: “These bronzes are beautiful, but I think I could do as well as at least half of these artists.” Her reply was: “Go for it!!”
At my studio in Scottsdale, I do sculpture portraits on commission, but will also produce commissioned figure studies of hired models on request. I have a number of gallery sculptures available in stock, as well as molds to make pieces on a custom order basis, in a wide variety of materials and finishes.
Prices of my completed works depend on size, material, surface finish, and attitude of the customer. They range from about $25 up to $13,000.
Kathy Nelson
Glass!!! I love it. What more can I say?
Kathy Nelson was born in Pennsylvania and lived in many parts of the United States before settling permanently in north Scottsdale in 1988. A long standing fascination with the texture, color and durability of glass fueled her interest in that medium. Her visits to European cathedrals emphasized the beauty of glass. She started working in glass as a hobby about 8 years ago. Initially, she was attracted to stained glass. However, after taking a couple of fused glass classes she switched from stained glass to fused glass, and has continued in that art, learning and teaching for almost a decade.
Reg McCormick
After serving in the military i became a barber and owned my shop for 40 years, never realizing that my profession was actually an art of creating the perfect cut to suit each individual. It was incredible to go to work and do something that i enjoyed so much.
Retirement brought new adventures of travelling and learning pottery, stained glass even carving ostrich eggs which lead me to my true joy, creating art with gourds. Having always created with my hands, i felt such passion in my heart and soul during the entire design process.
About his art
Michelangelo reflected “it is necessary to keep one’s compass in one’s eyes and not in the hand, for the hands execute but the eyes judge.” it is with the keen compass of his artistic eye and skillful hand that local artist reg mccormick executes his beautifully precise designs into the shells of ordinary gourds. In much the same fashion of the great masters, reg has the ability to “see” the image hiding just beneath the surface.
He finds each piece to have it’s own unique individuality and character, with the final result being a one-of-a-kind creation. At first glance, it is hard to tell that his medium is gourds, you see sculpture – magnificent sculpture.
Barbara H Frost
Creating wearable arts has been my passion for many years. I can frequently be found in classes at the Mesa Arts Center and workshops around the country as I’m always drawn to new techniques. Carving on a wax lathe is my most recently acquired skill and I’ve been like a mad scientist with wax shavings flying in my home studio of late.
I learned to solder in Home Economics in 8th grade, and I was hooked! My parents funded a very basic setup and I made my money in high school by selling my jewelry in the school bookstore. After a break from jewelry for many years, I came back to it in the early 1990’s in Massachusetts. I’ve taken classes at several art centers in Massachusetts, Maine, California and Arizona.
Lia Matevosyan Haselton
Lia S. Matevosyan Haselton was born in Armenia, one of the former Soviet Republics of the USSR. She was professionally trained as a classical violinist and was a member of the Armenian National Orchestra.
A Christmas present from her husband, a box of art supplies sparked a desire in her heart to paint.
Immigration to the USA in 2002 opened new opportunities for her artistic creativity. Lia continues to study, sharpen and improve her knowledge of Art at the Scottsdale Artists’ School in Arizona where she been juried and accepted to participate in The Best and the Brightest show many times. An annual show where the best student show their work.
Heavily influenced by masters such as K.Korovin, N.Fechin, S. Bongard, O. Berberian, M. Maczuga and S. Apinchapong-Yang; she also gains inspiration from nature and the beautiful faces of children and adults.
Lia creates oil paintings in an impressionistic style. To her painting is like music where she orchestrates color and harmony with dynamic brushstrokes.
She has been a member of The Sonoran Art League in Scottsdale Arizona since 2015.
Lia has trained as an artist and has had her work collected in Europe and the United States.
Dadra Hunt
My years at the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ provided me with a wealth of opportunity to expand my background in art. I was no longer confined to a small studio and therefore could make my projects mammoth if I chose to do so. I was able to try my hand at set design, wood working, lights, etc…but I found that working with metal gave me the most satisfaction.
While in college, we were assigned the task of creating a nom de plume. dh is the first letter of my first and last name. Seadragon is a nickname dubbed to me by my father.
After graduating with my degree in fine art, the name stayed with me. Today, most of my art is signed dhSeadragon.