DUANE DAMMEYER:
“My work is shaped by a combination of education, life events, and artistic influences.”
I am a sculptor with a background in both engineering and art. I hold an engineering degree from the University of Cincinnati and have studied art at Ventura College. My artistic style integrates geometric forms into many of my pieces, including triangles, cubes, and spheres. Additionally, my mastery of construction and stone masonry techniques allows me to expertly integrate various stones into singular works of art, further enhancing my artistic vision.
I approach my craft with two distinct methods. Sometimes, I allow the stone to dictate the final form; in others, I impose my creative vision. In the latter, I focus on form and construction to make a strong artistic statement. When working with the former approach, I employ subtle shapes and negative space to highlight the natural beauty and color of the stone. I draw boundless inspiration from nature, and my creations often showcase organic and fluid forms.
I use power tools and hand chisels to carefully shape each stone to bring the form to life. I refine it with rasps before finally polishing it with ever-finer grain sanding materials. Throughout the creation process, I caress the stone with my hands many times. The result is always a one-of-a-kind sculpture that aims to generate an emotional connection between my work and the viewer. I take great pride in consistently achieving this goal with my creations.