As we were wrapping up construction on the new studio, Kodiak Cakes reached out to talk about sculpting a life sized carved Kodiak Grizzly Bear sculpture for their new headquarters slated to open December of 2019. Like many large commissions we talked about how the process might roll out from concept to delivery.
This would be the first major project to roll out of the studio since the fire, so you could imagine how excited I was to get back to sculpting. This had been the longest period of time I had ever gone without making art and I was more than ready.
I just so happened to have the right material as well. Almost two years prior, my neighbor Tracy had given me a very large Ponderosa Pine (47″ in diameter) that had to be removed due to its proximity to a power line. Since that section weighed in at around 4600 lbs, my own crane was going to be insufficient, so I called up a friend who own’s a full size crane … Thank you (North Idaho truck and Crane)
Paul is a true professional crane operator, and with a little effort, he help me get the sculpture situated and before long it was staged in the new carving bay ready to get to begin carving. Below are a few pictures of the process. When you’re standing beside a log this large, you truly feel like its a giant wall.
As often as I carve bears, I still get a little nervous on a life-size kodiak grizzly The fact that we were after a particular look, and the investment of time being much more significant, only adds to to the pressure to get it right. When ever I get a chance to carve a life-size Kodiak Grizzly bear on this scale, I’m mindful of how the details will play out. Although the grizzly claws are very authentic, they are not “real”. They are museum quality replicas and really add a strong sense of just how dangerous the business end of these beasts are. It can be a bit tricky to install the claws but it’s by far the most impressive feature, which makes a Kodiak Grizzly Bear such a revered creature.
Quick Facts
The whole process took about 6 weeks which includes setup, blocking, detailing, oil, and finish work. There are a number of stages that require dry times and lengthy applications.
No, However they are museum quality replica’s cast in resin from real Kodiak Grizzly claws.
Height = 8′ 3″ / Diameter 46″ / Weight 1,939 lbs
Original Log Weight 4600 lbs
Wood carving is unique in that you only get one chance to get it right. So, on large wood sculptures there is always an extra measure of pressure to make sure you achieve what your after.
Kodiak Cakes was kind enough to sponsor a pancake feed, in which we were sent a boat load of Kodiak Cakes product to throw a big party. It was a great opportunity for people to see the big life-size kodiak grizzly sculpture in person, as well as the recently completed Jeff May Art studio… Shortly after the feed, My wife Kindra and I delivered the kodiak Grizzly in person to their headquarters in Park City, Utah. It was a mixture of business and pleasure as it had been a long awaited getaway since the studio fire way back in January. Big Thank you to Kodiak Cakes and their team for commissioning the sculpture and providing such a warm welcome upon our visit.
