Kent Kraus

I hand make each sculpture. The clay sculpture begins on the potter’s wheel with several thrown pieces that are assembled. The image is then built and shaped through the process of hand coiling. The piece is finally scraped and sanded smooth to fully express the movement of the form.

I use several types of stoneware clays depending upon the intention of the sculpture. The sculptures are either fired with a self developed glaze or are kept in their natural clay color to a temperature of 2167 degrees Fahrenheit. The original clay sculpture is then cast in bronze through the “lost wax” process and finished with a patina. I also use the same bronze patina on clay after covering the surface with a metal coating.

Caressing winds, flowing rivers, sensusous flowers, graceful animals, and the elegance of the human form are a few of my subjects that are interwoven into a new life force. The beauty in each piece is achieved by discovering the tension and balance of life unfolding in its natural growth. The path between reality and the imagination of my soul is the language of art that I choose to express.