Bob began his sculpting career in 1993 when he couldn't find a bronze penguin for Joh, his wife. "The impelling force that began my sculpting was the love for my wife and the desire to make bronze penguins for her collection. Prior to that time, I had never shown any artistic talent, nor inclination. In fact, when I did an art show in my home town, my elementary music teacher informed me that I had previously kept my talent "well hidden". Only recently have I begun drawing and painting although I never draw my sculptural ideas. These are completely visualized and come from within. I feel this is what gives them their essence. As I became more aware of my talent and as I developed my technique, my desire became to explore the breadth of my abilities. I feel my art is a form of sympathetic communication through which my feelings are transferred to the viewer for their own interpretation."

Although it seems strange for a banker to become a sculptor, his background supported his new venture. Graduating from the University of Idaho with a degree in biology, Bob had a strong background in anatomy, and more importantly, an appreciation for the beauty of life. Drafted into the military after graduation Bob continued his inquiry into the "essence of life" as a medical researcher and was published a number of times. More importantly he developed technical skills, which would later become elemental in bringing clay to life.

Bob's original works were all animals as he sought to understand his creative gift with reproducing creatures he knew best. Bob's new work explores the consciousness of man and his relationship to his surroundings. Bob feels that art in all its forms should move people to a higher level of consciousness and give them pride and understanding in who and what they are. It is the responsibility of the artist to create original and stimulating artwork to act as the catalyst. "I believe the primary element of good art is its ability to stimulate emotional responses in the viewer. I have found it easier to convey emotions through simplicity of lines and reductions of form. I have also found that creativity propagates creativity and releases both the artist and the viewer from traditional forms of interpretation. Henry Moore felt there were a number of universal archetypal forms which stimulate our subconscious. I concur and in my art I am pursuing those forms that will provide new presentations and interpretations of man's desires and aspirations that reconnect him to an understanding of self."

Bob Wilfong