Daniel Ross & Lee Ross

Living on Lake Superior has provided our palette of forms and colors which we derive from observing the shifting ice sheets, dramatic red iron cliffs and boulder strewn shoreline. Since first working together in 1974, we have functioned as a team. The sense of dialog, integration and balance that is implied in such collaboration is central to our work. We work together from the design to the finished sculpture. From sketching out ideas to rolling slabs of clay to construct the sculpture. The detailed carving is done when the clay is leather hard. The piece is then slowly bisque fired to make it receptive to glaze. Through years of experimentation we have developed our own glaze palette. The glaze is then applied by dipping, pouring and spraying. The final stage is exposing the sculpture to the flame and high temperature of a gas kiln, which imparts the deep rich colors.

The stone carving is initially done with hand chisels and hammer and then progresses to pneumatic and electric tools. Diamond polishing pads are used with water to polish the stone to varying degrees. We use granite, basalt, limestone and various other stones.

All of the sculptures, including the clay sculpture, are suitable for outdoor and indoor installations.