Inner Beast

Artist Statement: The inspiration for the art piece “Inner Beast” was derived from my love of Alaskan wildlife, my favorite creature being the wolf. Wolves are intelligent and loyal pack members, yet fearsome at the same time. For these reasons I wanted to convey to the viewer that wolves are wild creatures that deserve our respect.
I created the candle holder into the shape of a wolf’s head while its eyes and mouth were carved out to reveal the light of the candle within, or “the wild side that burns within every wolf.” The menacing snarl of the mouth, slanted eyes, and flattened ears helps the viewer to understand that a wolf reveals its inner primordial beast when it is hunting, or feels threatened. The colorations of the candle holder itself were created through the process of raku firing. This process created dark, earthy tones, in the fur thus giving off a natural yet somewhat dark feeling. The licks of red help emphasize the inner rage of the wolf which is now being expressed outwardly. The fur textures were created with the use of a fettling knife, cutting multiple strands of hair to produce what appears to be a thick coat of fur.