Artist Rick Hill presents a compelling portfolio of bronze sculpture in western and wildlife themes. View more of his work by visiting his website.
“Shotgun Shorty” bronze, 19” x 11” x 6”
My love of art came when I was a child around six or seven. Every night, when my Dad came home from work, he would love to sit down and sketch. I loved standing there for hours and watching him create.
“Shake A Tail Feather” bronze, 23” x 20.75” x 6”
After graduating high school, I received my formal art training at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. After graduating in the early 1980’s, I traveled to Los Angeles and started working as a graphic designer for Hughes Aircraft Company.
“Chasin’ Strays” bronze, 20” x 26.5” x 12”
In 1995, I turned my attention to clay sculpting. I took a class on how to build an armature with plumbers piping. I also learned how to shape 1/8” gauge wire into the piece that I intend to build. This is the first step in sculpting, before adding and finishing the clay piece. When finished, the piece is taken to the foundry to be turned into bronze.
“Above Burgess Pass” bronze, 12” x 10” x 6”
I studied at many colleges starting with Santa Monica City College, Art Center of Design, Pasadena and Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. I have traveled abroad, visiting many of the world’s great museums—the Louvre in Paris, the Vatican Museum, Vatican City and Palazzo dei Conservatori in Rome.
“Evening At Wolf Point” bronze, 10” x 16” x 8”
My love of nature and history inspires my portrayal of expressive figures and wilderness scenes. Sculpting allows me to depict rich form and expression in my western and wildlife sculptures.
“Distant Enemies” bronze, 31” x 14” x 30”
I am able to capture lifelike beauty while telling a detailed, multi-dimensional story.
“Seneca Warrior” bronze, 19” x 8” x 12”
I love trying to tell stories in my work. In my sculpture of an American Indian called “Seneca Warrior” I loved the challenge of portraying the subtle expression in his eyes to express the hardships he and his tribe endured.
“First Catch of the Day” bronze, 22” x 18” x 10”
My biggest thrill came in 2016 when I was commissioned by the Gabrieleno Indians (Kizh) of Southern California to design a bust of a Gabrieleno Indian woman named Toypurina. In the late 18th century at the age of twenty-five, Toypurina led a revolution against the Spanish army.
“Trade Blanket” bronze, 16” x 9” x 5”
She was captured by the Spanish, forced to divorce her husband and marry a Spanish soldier. She died at the age of twenty-nine. Her bust is located in on the Fedde Middle School grounds in Orange County, California, near where I currently live with my wife, Deb, and my dog, Andy.
“Bear Hunter” bronze, 21” x 16” x 7”
My biggest heartfelt dream and goal is to produce a large, monumental piece.
Artist Rick Hill invites you to follow him on Facebook.
Speak Your Mind