Ironwood Wildlife Sculptures
Thomas Suby & Ramon' DC, Bisbee, AZ
The medium from which an original sculpture is shaped has varying degrees of importance in its
emergence to final form. For me, this rich desert wood has always had a place of equal importance
to the wildlife depicts. I was first introduced to Desert Ironwood ( Olneya Tesota ) through the
stylized forms of the Seri Indians on the Sonoran coast of the Gulf of California in the mid 1970s.
It is a deep-rooted Acacia that produces lovely purple flowers in the spring. It grows along
washes throughout the lower elevation of the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, California and
Northern Mexico. These sculptures are the result of many years of collaborative effort between
artisan friends and myself in Sonora. We begin with wood that is long dead and often hundreds
of years old. We develop a figure from photographs, models, film and/or direct observation.
Next we chalk a form on a log, doing our best to use this valuable wood in an efficient and
effective way, chipping it downs to a workable shape with a heavy hatchet. Because of its
density and homogeneity, it works a lot like stone, resulting in many similar techniques,
including the use of rotary tools with carbide bits, chisels, files and sandpaper ranging from
60 to 600 grit. My friend, Ramon has an especially good feeling for movement and character.
Ultimately, I bring them to my shop for the final detailing and finishing.
My appreciation in the miracle of diversity of form in animals has deepened with each year.
I hope each piece does justice to the wildlife and to the beautiful wood.
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