Member's Galleries

I have several creative outlets, but sculpture is, without a doubt, my ‘first love’. I thoroughly enjoy shaping clay. I can’t say why, but the human form is a real draw for me; for some reason, realistic, in-the-round sculpture is what I love to do. Perhaps it has to do with an instinctual, even cellular, challenge to reconnect with our place in the natural order of things. Nonetheless, I love the challenge to pull it all together: proportion, integration of the elements and the toughest part of all: detailing. The last sixteen-to-twenty hours of a sculpture are the toughest, but also, the most rewarding!

Art will always be the substance of my life. It is a multi-faceted experience. There is no single definition of what art is or what it means to be an artist. Years ago, when I was a student at California College of Arts (Oakland, CA) several of the instructors alluded to the artist’s life style as a way of perceiving reality, a consciousness unfolding moment to moment. Years of experience has taught me that their wise commentary on art was truly close to the mark.

Leslie Ariel works primarily in clay and concrete. Her forms derive from a classically modern abstraction of the figure as well as her particular interpretation of naturally occurring forms. She strives to make pieces that can be read simultaneously on several levels.

A Montana native, Leslie now calls Portland, Oregon her home. She has evolved her distinctively organic style over the course of more than 10 years, working mostly in ceramic. Over this time, her pieces have steadily grown in size and sophistication, and she has turned to concrete to accommodate their ever increasing size. Big Leg Mama, a concrete seated figure owned by the city of Puyallup, WA, is her largest work to date and stands at just over 8 feet tall.

J.D. Bump's sculpture encompasses a wide array of subjects and mediums; from small ceramic pieces created in a day to large award-winning sculpture like the bronze "Bull with Human Figures". This sculpture was was four years in the making and has currently been displayed at both the Portland Art Museum R/S Gallery and the Oregon Museum of Contemporary Crafts. Visit his website to see these sculptures and you can also view a large collection of his two-dimensional works. Be sure to view the paintings he created while living in Morocco, and see Bump's earliest childhood works in a section titled "Art From the Crib".

Kim's inspiration comes from nature and travel. In order to bring each sculpture to life she takes time to research each subject prior to its creation and spends many hours sculpting each piece. Each animal she sculpts projects its own sense of movement and protrays action and excitement while keeping a simple form.

I began my career in ceramics, showing work in California, Oregon and Alaska. For the last fifteen years I have worked primarily in bronze and aluminum, producing quarter, half and full size figurative works. I strongly believe in the artist’s involvement in the entire process of creation and production and have set up my studio to include casting and foundry facilities for my work. I recently relocated to Portland where I am continuing my exploration of those mediums.

On the surface she is all about fun, dance and movement. But dig deeper and you'll find she is Attitude. She's political, she's passionate, she's interested. By no means is she reserved. This sculpture conveys rhythm and motion, yet her position is that split-second "freeze" before starting to move again - a personal statement within the dance of life.

"As an artist, I have really nothing to say. Otherwise I would have become a journalist." Anish Kapoor

Jim Demetro's sculptures are known for their distinctive quality of detail. Capturing an uplifting message in a groaceful composition of child/adult interaction is Demetro's passion. His sculptures are dynamic in form and function, with many incorporating water and fire to enhance the theme of the piece. Each reflects love, harmony, and the unconditional respect for all of life.

Randy: Plumbed for water, Life size.

Martin Eichinger's bronzes are refreshingly unique. They are evidence of a visionary artist who has something positive and eternal to say with his talent. More

Tamae's work uses subtle forms of expression to reflect women's feelings and their sensuality.

Susan’s sculptures evoke the spirit and mystery of the natural world. The Elements and Seasons series are free-standing metal mesh sculptures. Her masks include real and mythical animals in copper, brass and aluminum. The magical realist copper repoussé landscapes are finished with chemical and heat patina. The Shapeshifter & Myth series combine media including clay sculpture, metal masks, and copper repoussé. Outdoor work includes copper repoussé as well as various metal masks and birds.

While I was working on my bachelor's degree in the social sciences I knew that I wanted to do creative but I didn't know what. My high school had zero classes in art. I bought a camera and started taking pictures. A few years after I graduated I decided to go back to college to study photography. In the process I had to take other art electives. I signed up for a sculpture class thinking it might be too difficult for me. I fell in love with it and have been doing it ever since. That was in 1973. I recently started doing woodblock prints as well.

Photo: Bronze Bear fountain, 1/3. Commissioned for a collector's private garden.
Patrick Gracewood has over twenty years experience as both fine artist and commercial sculptor. Gracewood Studio offers portraits of people and animals; memorial and commemorative bronzes; architectural relief panels, sculpture services and prototypes. Commissions accepted.
For the collector seeking beautifully crafted, unique sculpture, contact Patrick Gracewood.