Category Sculptors  Name Christopher Turnbow  About the Artist J. Christopher Turnbow has been a practicing artist since the age of… well only Mom knows for sure. He was fortunate to have mentoring parents who are practicing and successful artists. His mother is a fabulous watercolor artist, while his father is a successful musician. At an early age J. Christopher exhibited a natural inclination for contemporary sculptural and mix-media expressions. His works have included painting, sculpting, bonsai, carving, and Native American Indian art. He has traveled extensively in the search for, and study of, many art subjects and methods of self-expression. His travels have taken him to studies in Mexico, Montreal-Canada, Paris-France, New York, Taos, Santa Fe, Ruidoso, Maine, San Francisco, Green Bay, and Galveston. His fascination with merging living nature and earthly materials for self-expression gravitated him to study bonsai under international Bonsai Masters Ben Oki, Warren Hill and Mary Madison. From sculpting in bonsai works he transitioned to stone sculpting. His bonsai and sculpture works tell of the harshness and difficulty of complete existence within only an earthly "elemental" or "self" construct. Haggard, yet majestic qualities are shown in lasting survival against earthy elements, however, spiritual investigations or acceptance of divine order lead to natural beauty and peaceful harmony. Sculptured Work J. Christopher made the transition from rock carving of Chinese potted landscapes (pen-jing) to direct stone sculpting after spending many hours working massive stones with hand tools. Additionally, after many years of working with oils and acrylics, he migrated to impressionist styles of painting. Taking his learning from both the pen-jing stonework and impressionist painting, he now works almost exclusively in an impressionist style of direct stone sculpture. His goal in direct stone sculpting is to find material that will, when crafted, exhibit the natural order of an earthly "self", yet allow for the expression of eternal spirituality. He is seeking to convey the reality of imposed limits for the "self" when practicing a purely individualistic philosophy while, in parallel, illustrating the beauty and infinite possibilities with spiritual acceptance or existence in a Godly community. Some of his works present a constructive and positive personification of order, others will concentrate on the converse, but in most works he attempts to strike a balance between both within the same physical space. Technique of Sculpture J. Christopher sculpts using hand tools with minimum use of any power tools. He uses hammers, points, chisels, rasps, and various diamond files. After the roughing of the piece he uses course to fine grades of sand paper and wet sanding techniques to create the smooth and finished surfaces. Wire brushes and additional use of frosting chisels provide post-finishing accents to the work where appropriate. The works are mounted on cured hardwoods that are personally worked by hand. Waxes are applied to the stone and tung oil to woods during the final polishing process. Each work is unique in not only the rock or color of rock, but wide variations exist in the texture and polish on the stones. Where needed for impressions the roughness of the rock is maintained. Alternatively, some areas are polished, while and yet other areas are polished and then etched as a final touch for accenting. Accompanying each work is the original study drawings and a process thought flow to the final concept of the piece. Any deviation from the original thought is captured along the development of the work in the motivational journal maintained for each sculpture. Future of Sculpture Work J. Christopher continues to produce sculptures at his home studio in League City, TX. He welcomes consignment, commission, and private collector sales. ZealFish Studio is his personal choice name representing his zealous following of the teachings of Jesus Christ and efforts to faithfully represent and present to the world, through modern impressionist sculpture, the gift of salvation offered by living God’s example. Each work seeks to represent the need for humility and recognition of failing that we all have in living up to that example, yet by the grace of God we have eternal hope through reinforcement of our faith on a minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, and day-by-day basis. Beyond the Christian theme works, J. Christopher will continue to dabble with secular sculpting and painting, however, most of these works will in some way convey the need for obedience to God and thankfulness to Him for the talent and opportunity to witness for Him through works produced. Motivation Behind Sculpture J. Christopher Turnbow seeks to illustrate through spiritually inspired creations the significance and uniqueness of individual purpose as realized through God’s will. Working via mediums of alabaster, marble, wood, and various metals he develops works of symbolism, each resonating with both earthly and spiritual tones, which seemly solicit the viewer to submit to and acknowledge the purpose of "self". The personification of "self" then is contrasted with the acceptance of God’s purpose thus illustrating what is an internal desire, or alternatively for some, a struggle for harmony. Peace is found by accepting Jesus Christ’s purpose and comes only from seeking, acknowledging, accepting, and receiving God’s grace and purpose for self. Thus, purpose is the expression of self as we willingly submit to God for significance.

Website By Highland Designs

234 West Gray Houston, Texas 77019 - (713) 520-1085