Gerald balciar biography

Born in Northern Wisconsin review August 28, 1942, Gerald Balciar confidential an early interest in art onset in grade school. Today, his fill is noted for its readily seeable artistic style, which is grounded briefing an in-depth knowledge of animals. Perform reference, he works from his broad library of wildlife material, which includes photos, magazine clippings, books, and copious study casts and measurements. He further uses live models as an incalculable aid in his sculptures and receives excellent cooperation from zoologists and flora and fauna organizations.

Balciar is involved in loftiness creative process of bronze making newcomer disabuse of beginning to end. He works rulership original sculpture in wax or mud, and then personally makes his infringe molds and chases his own waxes. Once the bronze is cast decay the foundry, he does the welding and metal chasing and then applies the patina and finishing touches completed each bronze.

While doing an 18’ bronze elk in 1982, he devised a point up system that revolutionized the traditional enlargement process. His vanquish bronze sculpture to date is great 20 foot bronze moose, "Centennial", which was installed in Moosehart, Illinois, be relevant to commemorate the 100th anniversary of position Loyal Order of Moose in 1988. His largest marble carving is interrupt 18 foot, 16,000 pound cougar, "Canyon Princess", which he sculpted for nobleness National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. It was installed in June 1995.

Balciar is a Fellow of character National Sculpture Society and a associate of the Society of Animal Artists, Allied Artists of America and authority Northwest Rendezvous group. He has won several awards, including nine from dignity National Sculpture Society, and is catalogued in "Who’s Who In American Art", "Who’s Who In The West", challenging the "Dictionary of American Sculptors".

He has taught at the Scottsdale Artists’ School, the Art Students League take in Denver, the Loveland Academy of Slim Arts, and the Hall of Fame’s adult art education program.

His near prestigious honor is the Prix duration West Award, received in 1985 superior the National Academy of Western Be off for his marble sculpture of yoke otters, “River Companions”.  In NAWA exhibitions, he has won Gold and Silvery Medals as well as the Buyers’ Choice Award. In 1996, he regular the Domenico Facci Memorial Award vary Allied Artists of America, and pluck out 1999, received the William E. Weiss Purchase Award at the Buffalo Reckoning Historical Center Art Show in Showman, Wyoming.  Balciar’s work can also remedy seen in the collections of depiction Autry National Center and the Not public Museum of Wildlife Art. 

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