A Colorful Character

Pastel on paper mounted to Board
44X22
SOLD, private collection
Giclee available


This is a portrait of the unique 1924 Daniel C. Muller carved giraffe, which rides the magnificent William Dentzel carousel in Dorney Park, Allentown, PA.

An additional page on this web site is devoted to the artwork, and describes how this and all of the large-scale carousel pastels are developed.

A Colorful Character is one of six pieces selected for printing in giclee, from the Carousel Series.

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And A Leo Will Lead

Pastel on textured mat board
Framed 60×40
500.
Also available in giclee


Inspired by the 1912 carving on the William Dentzel Kiddy Kingdom Carousel, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, this Lion is the companion piece to the Dentzel carousel Tiger, Tiger on the Prowl.

Completed in August, under the influence of the Leo Moon, this artwork, titled And A Leo Will Lead is dedicated to the strength of character and aplomb of the many venerable LEOS in my life.

The original is available for purchase.

And a Leo Will Lead is one of six pieces selected for printing in giclee, from the Carousel Series. Signed and numbered limited edition fine art giclees at 60×40 inches and smaller are available.

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Majestic Stag

Pastel on paper
Framed 72 x 36
Giclee available


This stag was carved long ago, during the magical time when carousels were new creations and exciting machines on which turn of the century adults spent leisure time away from their jobs and house work. Carved of wood by master carver Daniel C. Muller, this stag sports real deer antlers. The animal was carved for the Dentzel carousel now at Dorney Park, PA. and is a stately piece of artwork in it’s own right.

Choosing which animal to draw and present on paper is easy… the truth is, animals actually choose ME. All I do is stand in front of them, study the beauty of the carving or painting and if the animal catches my eye, holds my attention, and then takes my breath away, it’s a done deal. I draw it.

Such was the case with this carving. I feel I have done it justice and presented a majestic and elegant stag, standing proudly on the platform of Dentzel’s magnificent 1912 Merry-go-round.
Majestic Stag is one of six pieces selected for printing in giclee, from the Carousel Series. Majestic Stag is available as a signed and numbered limited edition fine art giclee reproduction, 72” x 36” and smaller.

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Proud Stallion

Pastel on paper
Framed 72 x 36
Available in Fine Art Giclee


A patriotic buff and black stallion with red, white and blue trappings, is the subject of this William Dentzel carved carousel horse, from 1924, and is representative of a sense of heartfelt compassion for our country.

Look closely and you will see a white star on the blue saddle flap. The patriotism seen in the horse, springs from the fact that most of America’s premier carvers, including Dentzel, were proud and patriotic immigrants.

William Dentzel charmed America 100 years ago with his amazingly graceful carousels. The carousel this proud stallion rides was built c.1924 and for many years was the center piece for Cedar Point’s Frontier Town. The carousel now resides at Dorney Park, Allentown, PA.

The original artwork from which the GICLEE was printed is pastel on paper, 36″ x 72″ and is in the collection of the artist.

Proud Stallion is one of six pieces selected for printing in giclee, from the Carousel Series.

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The Mysterious Dance of the Ghost Horse

The original pastel on paper
Framed 72”x 36”
Giclee also available


The story of a ghost haunting the Frontier Town, Dentzel Carousel at Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio is compelling. It seems that years ago, guards reported that after hours the darkened lights of the machine glowed slightly, the carousel turned slowly and often the image of a woman was seen riding the 1924 Daniel C. Muller carved Military stander. Is the story merely folklore?

No Matter. The tale and the attention the horse received was enough to cause the Cedar Point organization to remove the original from the carousel and replace it with a replica. The museum at Cedar Point, Sandusky Ohio now houses the wooden carving. This pastel is a rendering of the original Muller carved, wooden Ghost Horse.

Even before I knew of the unique circumstance surrounding this carving, it caught my eye. I considered it one of the most beautiful and special horses on the Frontier Town Carousel. Each return visit to Ohio’s Cedar Point included a moment to study this magnificent animal on the deck of the particularly majestic carousel. That it so easily captured my attention, personally adds to the mysterious nature of the story.

“The Mysterious Dance of the Ghost Horse” was chosen to be the cover for October issue of The Carousel News and Trader magazine.

carousel_mag

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Tiger on the Prowl

Collection of The Islander Hotel
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Giclee available


A special 1921 carousel in the midst of the midway at Cedar Point, Sandusky Ohio, features a number of menagerie animals, carved by one of the master carvers of the American Carousel — Daniel C. Muller.

This angry and exciting tiger adorns that Dentzel-made carousel, and is reported to have been one of William Dentzel’s personal favorite carousels.

Each piece in the carousel series is inspired by an emotion that I read from the carved figure. The emotion which influenced the Tiger was “aggression and anger” with the strokes of pastel being loose, strong and confident.

Though seemingly angry, this tiger is representative of the marvelous personality that the master carvers strove to input into their animals. I wanted to display that same level of serious artistry in my original pastel of this wonderfully fully carved Tiger on the Prowl.

Intended to be ridden and experienced by turn of the 19th century adults rather than children, carousel animals were depicted with sophisticated and sometimes frightening expressions, which added to the thrill of the ride.

Tiger on the Prowl is one of six pieces selected for printing in giclee, from the Carousel Series and it the companion piece to And a Leo Will Lead

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Passion of the Arabian

Pastel on paper
Matted and framed, 32 x 32
450.


The Flash of lights, the glitz of reflection, the imposing personality of this Daniel C. Muller carved horse, made me think of all the elements present in the spirited breed we know as the Arabian.
A flowing and fiery reddish mane, swooshing tassels and red and black trappings.

Were bits of this animal that needed to be captured. The expression on its attentive face sang of excitement and life ready to be tested. I chose to depict the horse from the typical lower sight line of a child, and in doing so, I feel the presentation is more imposing. The carousel lights are ready for illumination, signifying the electricity flowing in this horses veins.

Inspired by it’s flaring mane and the strain of the elegant neck, the subject is a 1912 DANIEL C. MULLER carving for Cedar Point’s Midway Carousel — a rare Muller carved carousel of all jumpers, four abreast. The machine is quite a thrill to see in motion.

Jump on board, and enjoy the ride that only passion can impart…..!

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A Developing Pastel

First Step —
Under-drawing of the giraffe is done in light and dark pastel, using the brown paper as a middle tone. The surface is textured paper, which allows the pastel to adhere to the surface. In the case of the giraffe piece, the paper is mounted to half inch thick gator board for durability.

Working from the Top Down —
Color is now applied. The piece is 22″ wide by 44″ high, similare in size to the authentic carving. It is inherent that pastel dust falls as the piece is in progress, possibly covering what is below in a haze of pastel dust. Therefore, the pastel medium is applied from the top down in works of this size

The Image Grows —
Most of the final color is worked as the image continues down the paper. Only minimal stroking of the pastel is done after a portion of the piece is completed. However some color tweaking continues over the entire surface as the work is in progress. The intent at this point is to try to keep all the elements of the piece in harmony, throughout.

Finished!
A Colorful Character
Pastel 44×22

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There is a magical point at which you instinctively say to yourself… “It’s done. Don’t touch it!” And, when you hear that, you just better trust yourself, and obey! A Colorful Character is in a private collection. Giclee fine art prints of the original are available.

To Purchase, Contact Artist