ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS Waxlander Gallery Laurel Peterson-GregoryBiography
Laurel’s range of expression is enabled by a comprehensive skill set gained from extensive life experience. After earning a degree in Industrial Arts from Humboldt State University in Northern California, she came to her art in a roundabout way: mechanic, Master electrician, building official, sculptor. From design to production, there is little that she can't do to realize her visions.
When she’s not in the studio, Laurel can usually be found in the 10 large gardens with which she’s surrounded her home and converted barn in the foothills of the Front Range south of Denver.Process
Laurel’s process begins with careful scrutiny of human motion. Hundreds of digital images and sketches later, a single position captures the essence of a particular dance step. During this process, Laurel also selects and interprets a specific dog breed or breeds to complete the piece. The pooches she chooses provide just the right complement to give her the lines and emotion she wants. That’s why you might see a dachshund doing the bump, a German shepherd pulling a Travolta impersonation, or a cocker spaniel hitching up for a line dance.
After sculpting a piece in wax or oil-based clay, traditional lost-wax casting methods immortalize the design in bronze. While approving every step of production, Laurel actively takes a direct role in achieving another hallmark of her work — complex and rich patinas. Multiple layers of chemicals and oxides are applied to the heated bronze to achieve a range of unique effects, both translucent and opaque, that complement each design.
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