Fred Whitman

I learned at an early age that I enjoyed working with my hands. Creating and fixing things became an outlet for my youthful energy. Pair that with my love of science and it makes sense that I pursued dentistry as a career. I spent several years applying my gifts in that trade, but had always viewed sculpture as the ultimate expression, and challenge, for my talents.

A few unfortunate circumstances forced my hand, but I know now that I’m finally pursuing what I was meant to do.

Mother Nature is my muse. The miracles of life amaze me every day. There are a lot of spectacular natural forms on this earth, both animal, plant and mineral, but the human figure is possibly the most amazing of them all.

Nailing the complexity and symmetry of the human body, especially the face, takes a lot of patience, but I love what I do, so time is not a factor.

Another love I found early in life is music. It has been my constant companion, and the musicians who create that form of art have been guides and saviors in my journey.

My career as a sculptor started in rock - as in the stones I chose as my medium, and the rock-stars I chose as my subjects. The second piece I undertook was a marble torso of Madonna. The pop-star, not the religeous figure. Then I carved a bust of Jackson Browne, who has been my co-pilot for much of my life.

Recently, due to another bump in the road, I've transitioned from the Stone Age into the Bronze Age. Due to a neck injury I can't grasp a hammer and pound on a chisel all day. Now I carve in wax, a full circle from making my own gold crowns as a dentist, These pieces are small, compared to the rocks I was carving, but I love the detail work that wax allows me to undertake. I'm back to carving with my old dental tools, but rather than just teeth as they were meant to be, I get to express myself.

I've choosen subjects based the things I love. I hope you see that in my work.

Enjoy.