Maquette

On Parade is one of the many clay Maquette’s I did in front of our home one summer before I started the first of many life-size peacocks. Alexander was always at my side while I was working. As is Sasha is now.

All Norwich terriers that I have known or lived with have stolen my heart with their devoted souls, which is why this piece goes by many names – ‘Devoted’, ‘Ruffus’, and ‘I W’.

Thistle, the gentlest soul, and the love of my life, was always by my side or on the back of my horse. She could fly like the wind! I was living in England during my equestrian career when I fell in love with Lurchers, and found Thistle in Matlock. Thistle would play with Olympian Bruce Davidson’s lurcher, Herbie while the two of us walked the 3-Day Event cross country courses. We could hear their thunder as they raced past us.

Volant was the horse of my lifetime. His huge heart and talent carried me around many great 3-Day Event courses, including Chatsworth in England and Rolex CCI in Kentucky. There is no greater joy than to be one with my horse, as with my art.

For more years than I wish to admit I enjoyed the sport of fox hunting and came quickly to admire and respect the beautiful red fox, which would lead the hounds (and all of us on horseback) a merry chase over the countryside until it got bored or tired and dropped to safety into a hole. I did this sculpture for the benefit of my home hunt, Mr. Stewart’s Cheshire Foxhounds, and the Cheshire Hunt Conservancy, as a tiny bit of give back for so many years of the best fox hunting in the country.

I spent ten days with Comanche, riding in the hills of Malibu and getting to know this delightful spirit. I worked on my sculpture of him for many days in a round pen, where Comanche delighted in picking up my tools and closely inspecting my work.

A word to the wise; never leave a door open with peacocks around. These curious birds will accept your invitation, and they lack the social graces. One day I came home to four in the living room!!!