Scott Rogers
It seems like only yesterday that I bought my first bronze from my uncle, Grant Speed. I took it home and looked at it for hours. In fact, that evening I took a sleeping bag out of the closet and lay by the piece to turn it in the moonlight. My love affair with bronze had begun. Six months later (in October of ’90) I came home from work, looked at that bronze and said, “I can do that”.
My desire is to use art as a vehicle to inspire mankind to see the beauty of all life. Artists are prone to leave emotional fingerprints all over their work; hence, in a real way, when you view an artist’s work, what you’re actually seeing is a self -portrait. I love how shape and form communicate. Every line has a spirit and speaks volumes. Put a lump of clay in my hands and a short while later you’ll know exactly how I feel and see my heart. For me, the secret rests in seeing the truth before my eyes. What I find interesting is how that truth changes.
I’ve been drawn to the spirit of the Old West since I can remember. As a youth, I spent hours reading of renegades, outlaws, wild men and horses. I connected with the ferocity, power, cunning, independence and courage of these characters. Consequently, the spirit of the Old West united with my soul. As a result, the Old West now finds expression through my fingers in clay.
Men and woman living at this time in history had courage to work for something better. They believed in the future and took risks to be a part of something bigger than themselves. I find great pleasure in doing justice to these men and women by creating authentic portrayals of what they represented.
As you view my work, take time to step back 100 years and find the spirit of the Old West. It is still alive today. The Old West is not locked down to time and place.
The first thing I do when sculpting a piece is to isolate an emotion I know intimately. This emotion pulls at my heart and makes me hold my breath. In fact, it is so potent it becomes physically draining. I attempt to draw the viewer is in as an active participant in the “moment” I portray. Even more, my goal is for them to associate in the moment as a first hand witness.I find myself in a constant state of research. I seek counsel at the hands of my peers and master teachers (i.e. Fritz White CA, Stanley Bleifeld, Mehl Lawson CA, Grant Speed CA.) I constantly hearken meaningful feedback that lends itself to enhancing my work.
Art lifts the spirit! Art assists one to reach out for that which is good in life. Art inspires one to feel better about themselves and their fellowmen.
I owe a debt of gratitude to my parents, Del and Vergie Rogers, for all of their support in assisting me to know I can achieve what I set out to accomplish.
Scott Rogers