Distinctly Montana Magazine

So Dennis, it's Friday. What kind of week have you had? It has been a pretty produc- tive week. A lot of the time my work is dependent on finding models, and this week I was able to schedule time with the model I am working with, so I got a good amount of work done on one of my new pieces. Waterside at Flathead Lake AUGUST 13th Sultry Breeze then the next. Guardian Spirit Premier Waterfront Condos Fronting Beautiful Flathead Lake 12 Condos Available with up to 6 Selling Absolute! • Offering Two and Three Bedroom, 2 Bath furnished units, with spacious layouts, upscale amentiies and garage parking • Features include slate and wood flooring, granite countertops, designer lighting, quality wood cabinetry, attractive fixtures, high ceilings, and more • Easy access to stone spa overlooking the lake, outdoor fire pits, fitness facility, and first-class dock with boat slips available DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL See more of Dennis' work Go to www.distinctlymontana.com/planetbronze114 1:00 PM (MT) DEVELOPER CLOSEOUT What are you working on now? I have a few pieces started at the moment; they are figural sculptures that will become additions to my cowgirl series. Once I find a model that inspires me I really dive into and commit to a piece. • With stunning views of Flathead Lake and Swan Mountain ranges, Waterside Condos is luxurious lakeside living just a short drive from Kalispell • Minutes from Glacier National Park, world-class culinary, boutiques, art galleries, nightlife, and an array of outdoor adventure including skiing, whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain biking, and golfing • This waterfront resort is situated on 5+/- acres with 500+/-ft of frontage on serene Flathead Lake What drives your artistic process? What I mean is how and why do you choose subjects, and how does the choice of subjects relate to your growth as a sculptor? My earlier figural work was extremely driven by my different emotional states, and the pieces I created repre- sented those emotions. (for example, Confined and Dante) However, my work now has strayed away from portray- ing my emotions and is now focused more on creating an emotional response in others. As far as my wildlife art, in the earlier years I was interested in creating pieces that were based on subjects and animals that were a world away; now my animals are the ones that can be found in our backyard here in Bozeman, MT, for example, moose, bears, and chipmunks. You mention two influential people in your life, one from the 17th century, and one from the 21st. Tell me about Gianlorenzo Bernini and Martine Vaugel. What do they mean to your life and art? Bernini is important to my work and me because I feel a connection with him. We are both trying to portray the female form softly and delicately through an extremely hard medium. What Bernini was able to do with stone I hope to be able to do with bronze. Martine Vaugel is my mentor. I have so much respect for her both as an artist, as an educator, and close friend. She is a world-class artist; however, she always finds time to talk to me about my art and our lives. I know that a few years ago you had a traumatic head injury and had to "re- learn" sculpting. What was that like for you and how did you go about it? I suffered from a hematoma on my brain in 2007, which caused a significant amount of memory loss. It took me a year and a half before I was able to start sculpt- ing again, and when I got back into the studio I realized 30 J.P. King Auction Company, Inc., Gadsden, AL; Christie King Ray, Supervising Broker #16022 DISTINCTLY MONTANA • AUTUMN 2011 Does your workday follow any particular pattern? I try to get into the stu- dio around 10 o'clock every morning. The neat thing is my studio is located in my art gallery, Planet Bronze, so all day long I can take breaks from working and talk to people who have come into the gallery to see the art we have. I think it is really exciting for the clients to actually get to meet me and form a friendship. That doesn't always happen when you walk into a gallery and buy a piece of art. Because of this every workday is slightly different

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