EDMONDS — Sculptor David Varnau loves his young granddaughter, Abigail. He wanted to capture her free spirit in his art.
“Grandparents have the opportunity to view their grandchildren with a different sensibility,” Varnau said. “Abby is a wonder and I see her with a sense of awe that parents are not afforded because of the daily care of kids.”
The result was “Joie de Vivre,” a joyful rendering of that playful spirit. The clay model for the bronze sculpture will be on display in Varnau’s studio during the 11th annual Edmonds Art Studio Tour on Saturday and Sunday.
It’s a free, self-guided tour of 19 private art studios and two galleries, together displaying the work of 37 local artists in the Edmonds area.
Abby was just 4 when Varnau started working on “Joie de Vivre.” Even with a sweet treat bribe, she was able to pose for only a few minutes at a time, which meant that her Papa had to take some photos and measurements of this active kid. Abigail and her family live on Lopez Island, so Varnau saw Abby only monthly during the sculpting process.
“And each time she would say to me, ‘Papa, that doesn’t look like me.’ It was a little discouraging,” Varnau said. “Eventually I sent the clay model to the foundry. When the bronze came back, I asked Abby what she thought and she was happy. ‘Papa, it looks like me!’ So I asked her what had changed. ‘It’s shiny,’ she said.”
Varnau, 65, has a background that lends itself to his art. His college degree is in psychology, so he is versed in body language and the subtle nuances of human expression. And recently he retired from a health care career making prosthetics for people with injuries, etc.
“My skeletal and muscular anatomy studies have served me well in the creation of my figurative sculptures,” he said. “And the problem-solving skills from my work with prosthetics helps me find solutions to mechanical aspects of the sculptures.”
Since the process of working in bronze is so expensive, Varnau has sold much of his work to municipalities.
“Public art is so important to communities,” he said. “And watching people interact with my sculptures gives me my greatest satisfaction. I love to stand by and watch the visceral response to my work.”
Varnau said he is looking forward to the studio tour.
The tour offers a chance to get to know the artists, watch them in action creating new art, buy their finished work and ask questions.
And Varnau is ready to tell people about the complicated and lengthy process of bronze sculpture creation, which involves clay, silicone, wax, ceramic and finally bronze.
Before you go on the tour, take a look at the edmondsartstudiotour.com website to learn more about the artists, who work in painting, glass, ceramics, wood and more.
They include Meredith Arnold, Bonnie Aubuchon, Angela Bandurka, Liana Bennett, Ellen Busteed, Ellen Chappelle, Rick Davenport, Jennie de Mello e Souza, Andy Eccleshal, Darlene Gentry Lucas, Barbara Goodfellow Childs, Janis Graves, Janet Hawse, Lynette Hensley, d’Elaine Johnson, Kathleen A. Johnson, Mary Bess Johnson, Tina Marohn, David Marty, Lynn McManus, Pamela Mummy, Mary Anne Nagy, Jonlee Nunn, Mike O’Day, Julie Perrine, Judith Perry, Michael Reagan, Sue Robertson, Xavier Salazar, Karen Simonson, Mona T. Smiley-Fairbanks, Mara Sparks, Nancy Thompson, Robin Westbrook, Molly Winton, Barbara Wyatt and Varnau.
Cascadia Art Museum also is on the tour, as are ZINC Art+Object, Hodges Photo Gallery, Cole Gallery, ARTspot, Gallery North and Re-Juiced Studio.
If you go
Edmonds Art Studio Tour
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 17-18
Download a map at edmondsartstudiotour.com or pick up a guide at Gallery North, 401 Main St.
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