Direct Carving of Marble Stone

Dear Art Lover,

     Beginnings are often dramatic since change happens quickly and memorably.  Let me share with you today the beginning stone carving stages of the contemporary marble sculpture Back to Back.  A special and limited time offer follows at the end of this blog post.  Please share with friends and fellow art lovers.  

The Creation of the Stone Carving Back to Back Contemporary Art:

    This stone was cut from the marble quarried for the artist's carving of the Gymnast. There was a block cut from above the head of the Gymnast.

     I am a direct carver. That means that I draw directly on the stone and cut what I wish to not have there. The other method is to create a sculpture in some other, more forgiving, material and then "translate it" (copy mathematically) into stone by taking measurements from the original. 

You may see the Gymnast as a work-in-progress (WIP) on the right in the background.

    Is it not easy to fall in love with marble? Even though the two images below were taken during the final sanding and polishing stages, her beauty is quite evident. She looks soft with the right curves in place and the little crystals (seen easier in the image on the right) are such a subtle splendor. 

     The next image showing the lower part of the male torso also gives you an idea of how translucent this Colorado Yule Marble can be when thin enough. I like the contrast that gives me so much change in the light interacting with the stone. The image on the right shows "the wet look." I was having a bit of fun while I was washing off a layer of fine marble dust after sanding, preparing for the next finer level of sandpaper. This sculpture is very touchable, even after the sealer has been added for protection. Enjoy touching and looking! 

     Typically, the Colorado Yule Marble will have either gold or a silver/grey veining. This stone has a thicker and harder grey material the quarrymen call "churt." While some people may prefer a solid white stone, I do not. I like knowing that the original art is a real rock with its own personality. I include here some of my favorite detail shots. They show the uniqueness of this marble, as well as the sensuality and softness of one form melding and changing into another. This next image looks like a meteor shower zipping through bodies of snow -- gorgeous! Enjoy!

Back to Back

Colorado Yule Marble
one of a kind
14" h x 9.5" x 9.5"
© Kelly Borsheim

Ships from Austin, Texas USA

$4600, but if you make at least a down payment before 30 September,  I will also add a 12-inch tall female bronze figure Ten, or the bronze male figure Valentine mounted on stone.  Feel free to share this blog post offer with anyone you think might be interested in it. Thank you!

http://www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture/2002/ten.htm

http://www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture/2002/valentine.htm

 Ten - Left

 Valentine - right

Both bronze wall-hanging sculptures with stone base

For more views of the marble sculpture “Back to Back,” please click here: 

http://www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture/2011/Back2BackMarbleCarving.htm

Tanti auguri di buon compleanno, Nori! 

Peace,

~ Kelly Borsheim, sculptor

http://BorsheimArts.com

Carved Stone in Dripping Springs Texas

Dear Art Lover,

     Phil and Michelle Hoggatt have been friends of mine for many years.  They live and work in Dripping Springs, Texas, with their home-based business called Carved Stone, Inc.  They are such good people and I am thrilled and honored to call them friends.  They create many products for the home (lamps, benches, etc.) from Texas limestone and sometimes other materials. 

     Many years ago they added a sculpture garden, creating a path through the shady parts of their property.  They have hosted many sculpture events and fundraisers for charities and visitors are welcome to stroll the grounds.  I hope that you will go visit some time and even take some of their stone creations into your home.  John and I arrived there late in the evening after we got delayed accidentally in Boerne for several hours, so I do not have any images of the Hoggatt’s lovely gift shop.  

Visit them online at: https://carved-stone.com/

     The bonus for my visit was that they still had a lot of blooming Texas bluebonnets!  I hope you enjoy their nightlights in the garden, as well as my snapshot of the full moon overhead us during our visit.

Sculptures in stone by Phil and Michelle Hoggatt

     If you like, please have a look at some more of my sculpture online here:

http://www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture.htm

Peace,

Kelly

P.S.  Subscribe to the art newsletter here (it is FREE):  http://www.borsheimarts.com/contact.htm

 

Texas Bluebonnets and limestone Carvings

Bluebonnets and Sculpture - lovely combination!

Full moon over Sculp;ture Garden, Texas

Stone sculptures for sale for your garden, Texas or otherwise

Selling Stone Marble Alabaster Texas

Dear Art Lover,

     It pains me to say that I have to sell some stone.  I have a huge block of 36” x 18” x 18” Colorado Yule Marble.  It was cut from the quarry in Marble, Colorado, in 2003 near where they were searching for stone replacements for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C.  It is a lovely piece of rock and I had wonderful plans to carve a male torso from it.  The block weighs almost 1200 pounds and the price is $1200.  I drove this from Colorado to my (now former) home in central Texas (Bastrop County, SE of Austin).  Pickup only, although we will help you load the stone into your truck or van.

 

I am also selling the large {Texas) limestone block that you see here being lifted with an A-frame and chains.  [The Colorado Yule block is the white one in the background.]  I do not know the weight or dimension on this stone, but is it larger than the Yule.  However, limestone is less expensive than marble… I will accept $600 for that stone… a mermaid, can you not see her?

I also have several smaller stones.  The next featured is a gorgeous piece of the famous quasi-transparent white Italian alabaster.  I paid $600 and that is what I would like to receive for this beauty.  She is 244 pounds.  There is another piece of Italian alabaster that I started to carve into a giant snail shape… if interested in that one let me know and we can see what we may work out.  And you see a piece of marble in the foreground.

I will be returning to Texas in early April and deciding on the fate of a lot of my belongings there as I prepare to move most of my life to my new home in Italy.  I am sure that I will have other art materials for sale, but until I return and have some time, I may not know.

If you are interested in being contacted once I have more information, please let me know soon.. this trip is short and packed with so much travel and visiting along with work that the more organized I am before I arrive, the more I may help you receive something you want.

Thank you so much for hanging out with me and reading along!   

Peace,

Kelly

P.S.  Subscribe to the art newsletter here (it is FREE):  http://www.borsheimarts.com/contact.htm

Public Art Stone Sculpture Designs

Dear Art Lover,

     This past Sunday, March 19, was Father’s Day in Italy.  I spent the day with a bunch of local sculptors I know.  We met up at Cava Nardini (the Nardini Quarry) in Vellano, Italy.  I was not told what the meeting was about, but went along for the social event and also in the hopes of keeping connected with what is going on.  It turns out that it was originally thought that this proposed project would need to be completed by May and since I will be in the US, I would not be able to participate.  Now we know we have until September, so I am spending this week coming up with a design for the specs of the public art project in Tuscany.  The mayor or his team will have a look and decide which proposals they will like to realize.  If mine is chosen, then I know what I will be working on in June!  

Cava Nardini Vellano Valleriana Tuscany Italy Sculptors Discuss Designs

Metal ropes hung outside Cava Nardini, Vellano

Boys and Toys and distant snow-capped mountains

     It was a cool and overcast day, but fun.  After our gathering in the quarry, we went into the town of Vellano where I took some of these close-up and scenic shots before we enjoyed a huge and lively lunch at Trattoria Manero.  My friend Kumiko and I are the only non-Italians at the table and I swear hanging out with these guys made us laugh and laugh, especially when the older guys give the younger ones their words of wisdom about life.  Lots of hand gestures in the conversations and I really believe we had the liveliest table in the whole place!

Sculptors 3-hour lunch at Trattoria Manero, Vellano, Italy

     I am looking forward with joy and trepidation for my almost two-months in the US.  I know that I will not be able to see all whom I would love to see, but am doing the best that I can.  I have much to do there.

     If you like, please have a look at some of my sculpture online here:

http://www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture.htm

Happy SPRING!

Peace,

Kelly

P.S.  Subscribe to the art newsletter here (it is FREE):  http://www.borsheimarts.com/contact.htm