Artist's Statement
My love affair with stone started at age 14 with the gift of a small piece of pink alabaster. I learned early to think in three dimensions, which continues to help me see the sculpture in the stone before I start carving. The ability to visualize fully-formed figures allows me the freedom to carve directly into the stone with limited use of clay models. My favorite subject is the human form, which provides unlimited possibilities.
Carving is my meditation. It is a time to focus solely on the figure emerging from the stone and to love the feel, smell and sound of the human form coming to life.
There is no hidden meaning to my sculptures; the human form has no need to be abstruse.
Carving is my meditation. It is a time to focus solely on the figure emerging from the stone and to love the feel, smell and sound of the human form coming to life.
There is no hidden meaning to my sculptures; the human form has no need to be abstruse.
About the Artist
Mark Coyl has been sculpting for more than 45 years; his preferred media are stone and metal. Often his sculptures are made from a soapstone that is readily available in the Applegate area of Southern Oregon. This soft stone ranges in color from blue-gray to brown to jet black. Whenever possible Mark sculpts in alabaster and his favorite stone, marble. When he sculpts, he asks himself: How can I get this static piece of stone to show motion and how can I make this piece of inanimate stone look alive?
In the 1980s, Mark began applying his skills as a welder to sculpting metal and continues to explore the medium today. Most of the metal sculptures are constructed like a body: a strong wire framework supports the additional layers of metal that are painstakingly added until the sculpture is complete. He is also skilled in the ancient method of lost-wax casting, but those sculptures are rare since creating them requires access to a foundry.
All of the art shown on this page are original works of the imagination, created for Mark's pleasure as well as that of his friends and family.
Commissions are happily accepted. If you are interested in purchasing one of works of art shown here or commissioning a new sculpture, please submit inquiries using our contact form.
