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I was born in 1934 and raised in Ottumwa, Iowa. Following graduation from the Iowa State College school of Forestry I was employed by the U.S. Forest Service for 32 years. During college I married Rosemary and we raised three sons Alan, Brian and Curt who all live in Missouri. We have seven grandchildren.
After trying oil painting, pen and ink drawing and wood carving I began stone sculpture in 1978. I find stone carving the most satisfying. With the exception of one weekend seminar I am self-taught. Most of my learning has come from books, other artists and trial and error.
Mostly I use a type of limestone called dolomite found here in the Ozarks. It comes in shades of gray and is nearly as hard as marble. I also use some marble, alabaster and soapstone to add color.
I began carving with hand tools but now use some power tools to get the effects I want.
One of my hobbies is reading history. Most often western history. I particularly like the mountain man and cowboy eras. When I carve I often choose a character from those periods. I also enjoy carving the animals of the west.
Most of my sculptures have been shown and sold at art shows throughout the Midwest. I have participated in the National Craft Festival at Silver Dollar City near Branson Missouri for the past 14 years where I demonstrate stone carving and sell my sculpture. My work was voted Best of Show there in 1993.
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