Featured Artist Charles Strain

Artist Charles Strain creates flowing, expressive bronze sculpture. Visit his website to see more of his work.

 

 

After much experimenting with different art forms, I finally found my passion. I studied at Culver Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, and also at Studio International in Italy. It was in Italy that I decided upon my medium and pursued my dream of becoming a sculptor.

 

 

I determined that bronze was the medium for me. If you know me, you would know that my hands are large, sometimes clumsy and lumbering. I am that guy that always knocks his drink over while eating dinner; however, with clay work, my hands are agile and quick, feeling the forms in my mind.

 

 

With clay, however, you still have to be careful – the pieces will break easy if bumped or dropped. I wanted to make pieces that would last, that could be passed down from generation to generation. Bronze is durable, and withstands time.

 

 

The process of lost wax casting of bronze excites me, fascinates me, and exhausts me. The process is long and arduous, but at the end of the process the beauty I see in my thoughts becomes reality.

 

 

I draw my imagery from the world of nature and life experience. The fusion of man and nature is a predominate theme in my sculpture.

 

 

The aesthetic lines of the human figure and the celebration of human emotion are vehicles I use as subject matter in my composition.

 

 

Happiness, sadness, a moment in time, a familiar experience, a celebration; these are some of the experiences I hope to impart through my work.

 

 

I want people to feel these emotions:  happiness, love, sadness, excitement, beauty and peace. If the sculpture evokes feelings, I have done my job.

 

Charles Strain invites you to follow him on Facebook.

 

Want to stay current on cutting edge business articles from Artsy Shark, plus artist features, and an invitation to the next Call for Artists? Click below to sign up for our twice-monthly email. You’ll get all this plus opportunities and special offers that you can’t get anywhere else!