From The Bench

I really do enjoy those 2 weeks that bookend Christmas and New Year's. Most trophy shops that deal with the military take those 2 weeks off, so I get to kick back and relax. Of course, your idea of 'relax' and my idea of 'relax' are two different things. I've gone on a sculpting binge as of late. I will be introducing quite a few new statues over the next 2 months: Ol' Bill by Mench – based on that famous Remington drawing. Great Cavalry piece. Hambone – a real mule used around WW2 by the army Engineers Corps. Fascinating story about him. Check it out here: http://armybases.org/fort-carson-co-colorado/ AF mini Chief – Yeah, you could put it on a Christmas tree... but, why not hang it from the rear view mirror of your car when you drive on base? Show 'em who runs the base! Minute Man – halfsize – For all our National Guard people out there, we're offering a smaller size at a very 'friendly' price point. Now, some of the photos that you see are of the statues that aren't finished. The photo of Hambone was taken when it was still in the wax form; the photo of Ol' Bill by Mench shows a first casting. That pole that is attached to the horse's belly is just a pour spout. Obviously, that is going to be taken off while small holes are patched. Keep checking back for updates on these new designs. The mini Chiefs' bust will be here before the end of the year; the rest should be arriving some time in late February, 2016. Yes, we are taking 'backorders' on these pieces. Just give us a ca...

When I talk to customers and potential customers, I'm usually asked what city I'm based out of. When I say Colorado Springs, I almost always hear 2 things: "Oh, Colorado is so beautiful!" and " What's with all the sculptors living in Colorado Springs??" Yes, on the surface, it does somewhat odd. Garman, Blackshear, Patterson, and Stearman all live here, too. My good friend and fellow sculptor Rick Lewis also lived here up until his untimely death in 2005. So, what's up with that? I think it comes down to a few factors – yes, Colorado IS beautiful. It's God's country. It has a high number of sunny days,wide open spaces,a couple of vineyards, a LOT of wildlife, and a great climate. On top of that, we have an insane number of restaurants. You can always find a place to eat, 24 hour a day. But it's also more than that; there is a slightly odd prevailing attitude here ( could be the lack of oxygen at 7,000 feet, I don't know). Not sure what I mean? The photos here should give you an idea. Colorado Springs has always had an unusual mix of yuppie and hippie, with a bit of Mayberry thrown in. Where else are you going to see hot rod handicap stickers and double entendre veterinarian signs? The biggest factor is that Colorado Springs is a military town. We have five bases here: Ft. Carson, Peterson AFB, Shriever AFB,USAFA, and NORAD.Rumor has it that there's a Stargate at NORAD, but I digress.This city is a networking dream; it's the perfect place for artists who works are military-the...

Welcome to our new site! This is our maiden blog for our new internet home. It's been a long time coming; we've got almost every item re-photographed, categorized and have added more information.We've got several new features on this site: We've got our refurbished/seconds area, nicknamed "Return To Duty". These are statues that have gone up against UPS, Fed Ex and the USPS and have suffered some damage.But with some care and skill, they've all been restored. You won't be able to tell that they were ever damaged.And, best of all, it's budget-friendly. But be aware: we have limited quantities. We also have our custom works pages. Looking to have a statue recreated? Looking to have one of your own statues reproduced? Looking for a bronze? Or a fiberglass? We can do it all. We work to fit your budget. Just give us a call for more details. We also have a new page called "From the Bench". This features statues that Rod has always wanted to do. They may be military based, they may not be – it just depends on his mood. But all will be limited edition. First one "From the Bench" will be a 16" Spartan titled "Come and Take Them".This was Leonidas' reply to Xerxes' command that they relinquish their spears. Rod has wanted to do this statue since he was in high school! When the piece is ready for production, we'll have more info on it, such as price and edition size. Each piece will be hand signed and numbered by Rod.It's also going to be available in a 12" and 9" scale for our wholesal...