Derek Winstanley

wood and stone sculptor

contact:

media/area of specialty
I work with domestic and exotic hardwoods and sometimes stone to create free-form sculptures that bring out the natural beauty inherent in the materials. What to many may be waste products, such as bark and sapwood, become integral parts of the design and character of the sculpture. The wide range of natural wood colors provides an artist's palette without staining or artificial treatment. As its name suggests, bloodwood is deep red, holly is the purest white wood, ebony is black, and rosewood ranges from purple to cream. If I had to use one word to describe many of my sculptures it would be biomorphic - life forms.

artist statement and biography
Sculpting is creative. You start with a rough piece of material and a vision and out comes something that is unique. This is the common thread between being an artist and a scientist. A research scientist creates new knowledge, understanding and order from rough material. The intensity of concentration and expression in sculpting is similar to that in conducting scientific research. The real challenge in sculpting is that it is subtractive and mistakes usually are fatal.

My early years were spent in Wigan, a coal-mining and rugby town in northern England. I started being creative with scraps of wood almost 40 years ago when I lived in London. Time spent in Canada, Africa and the American West have greatly influenced by views of the world and my artwork. As a scientist I have a Ph.D. in climatology from Oxford University and am Chief of the Illinois State Water Survey. My main interests are global and regional climate change and water-supply planning in Illinois. I have no education or training in art or woodwork.

gallery

Derek Winstanley's "Prehistoric Dolphin with Modern Technology," signature image for the 2008 Boneyard Arts Festival.