Bronze Wildlife and Creations

Medium/Art Form: Visual

When and how did you start making art?

I started sculpturing as a hobby about 12 years ago as I was contemplating retirement. My first pieces were busts of my two pet Vizslas, Watson and Holmes. My next projects were a sharp-shinned hawk and a saw-whet owl. I have since done other inanimate objects. My pieces are sculpted in clay and then bronzed using the lost wax method. I have always enjoyed and appreciated art. I come from an artistic family — photographers, painters and wood carvers. My website is mikekarcz.com.

What inspires your work?

Nature and animals. I have always been intrigued by nature and how to create it in my mind to an actual piece that reflects my view; working in clay and then transforming to bronze is amazing journey. I try to replicate the colors using Patina to show the colors of the image in a lot of my work.

How would you describe Green Bay/NE Wisconsin’s arts community?

Diversity and many opportunities to show our work opening up daily.

What is the best advice you have for other artists?

Keep searching for something that reaches out to you, then picture it as you see it and wonder how you can express yourself with a piece of art.

Where can people find your work?

I have sculptures at Robert Ray Gallery in Algoma and Margaret Lockwood Gallery in Sturgeon Bay. All of my pieces can be seen at my website mikekarcz.com (Bronze Wildlife Creations).