I have ventured into canvas! Well, kind of. No, I have not given up sculpture for painting. I had an opportunity to place some drawings in a show where all work had to be on canvas. I decided, rather than painting, I would laminate a giclee print of one of my pencil drawings to the canvas and then add colored pencil to it. It is rather unique. Check out my Available Drawings page to see this and other works on canvas.
New Drawings on My Website — Mike McCarthy Sculptor /
"Moon View" - 8" x 5.5" white ink on black paper
"Compassion" - 8" x 5.5" stippled ink on paper.
I have posted some new drawings to my available-drawings page. (You can click the link to take you directly to the page.)
Most of the new drawings are stippled. I have been really into stippling lately. I love the texture you can get with just dots. The process is also very soothing to me. I can build up intensity a little at a time. It is very reminiscent of sculpture in that it is a slow process to get to where you are going.
Some of the drawings are on black paper. With these, I use white ink to create a very interesting effect. Like in "Moon View" above, the white ink and the leafless tree gives the feeling of a cold winters night.
I am also using a traditional black ink on some drawings. the advantage here is the the stippling can be finer. I can get finer point pens for doing this type of work. It takes more time because the dots are so fine, but I think it gives a softer feel to the drawing.
Check out the page and leave some comments about them.
"Cor Liberum" - My newest commission for Norton Hospital, Audubon Campus /
In the May 12 edition of "Louisville Business First", my sculpture "Cor Liberum" was introduced! I was invited to submit a proposal for the entry sculpture as part of a new renovation at the hospital. My proposal was chosen and I was awarded the sculpture. Check out the online version of the article:
Come along on a hard hat tour of the Norton Audubon expansion (PHOTOS)
I am listening to "The Agony and the Ecstasy" /
A fellow sculptor Karen Terhune and I drove up to Bedford Indiana this past weekend so that I could pick out some stone for a new commission. While we were driving, Karen told me about her favorite book (and I think movie), "The Agony and the Ecstasy". The book is by Irving Stone. It is a biographical novel of Michelangelo. I can't get enough! it is so funny how little things in the book really strike home. I have just started the book, but already, it has captured my mind. The best part so far was when one of the Medici sons asked Michelangelo to participate in a hunt. Michelangelo responded that he would rather carve. That is the story of my life. I would rather carve than just about anything!
The KYANA Outdoor Sculptors Guild Invitational opens to a great crowd inspite of the rain! /
The opening reception for the first KYANA Outdoor Sculptors Guild Invitational was Friday, May 12. The reception took place at Bob Hill's Hidden Hill Nursery and Sculpture Garden in Utica, IN.
At first, it appeared that the weather was not going to cooperate. The day started off rainy and cool. However, by around 4:00 pm the rain gave up and the weather changed. It turned out to be a beautiful evening for the reception. The crowd was great, the food and music were great, the grounds were beautiful, but most of all, the art is stunning!
Opening night saw 3 pieces find new permanent homes. Mary Dennis Kanapell's "Garden Guardian" was the inaugural sale. Don Lawler's "Ghost Dancers" limestone sculpture followed soon after. My "Dance" completed the first days sales.
The show is open until August 11, 2017. If you were scared off by the weather on Friday, head on out between now and August 11 and enjoy some beautiful art in a beautiful setting. Consider giving one of the other 40+ works of art a permanent home.
"Garden Guardian" by Mary Dennis Kanapell
"Ghost Dancers" by Don Lawler
"Dance" by Mike McCarthy
www.mikemccarthysculptor.com is ready to accept payments! /
VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express or apple pay are now accepted here. If you are looking for that perfect gift, look no further. Hand crafted, personal sculpture and drawings are the perfect gift!
"Cobra" Contemporary Soapstone Sculpture
My Carving Progression /
With all things, it is typically the goal of any individual to improve their skill or proficiency. That is definitely the case for me when it comes to my sculpture. In particular, improving my skill at sculpting the human face has been my biggest focus. I have made quit a bit of progress over the last 6 years. After graduating with a degree in Fine Art degree from Bellarmine College in Louisville, KY, I did not focus on my art in any meaningful way. However, after being encouraged to join PYRO Gallery for several years, I finally got serious. I joined the gallery and now carve every day. I have attached some pictures to show the progress I have made in carving the human face.
"Growth" is the first face I ever carved. Not bad, but needed some work You can see I avoided the mouth!.
"Sylvanus" is the second face I carved. Again, I avoided the mouth. It is still very flat, but the eyes are more even. This piece is also very large scale so it was easier.
"Francis" was the fifth face I had carved. The face is much rounder and truer than previous attempts. I am still avoiding the mouth at this point.
"Zephyr and Flora" were the sixth and seventh faces I carved. Again, much rounder and finally attempted a mouth. With Flora, I finally started to feel like I was getting it.
"If the Spirit is Willing" is my ninth and latest face. She was just completed in May of 2017. Finally a full face. It has taken me a bit to get here. My nest steps are to work on expression.
The Making of "Dance" /
"Dance" is my latest sculpture. It was carved from Indiana Limestone. This is one of the best stones to carve for outdoor sculpture. It a soft stone that will hold an edge very well. This time-lapse video covers 7 days of carving.
This video is a time-lapse video of the making of "Dance", a contemporary sculpture carved from Indiana Limestone by Mike McCarthy. This 2:30 video covers 7 days of carving.