Lions, Fu Dogs and Bears (OH MY!)

Great Animal Sculptures of Lions, Fu Dogs and Bears (OH MY!)

Animals make fascinating subjects for artists. Here you'll find unique sculptures of lions, fu dogs, bears, cats, wolves and other animals. I'll showcase my sculptures plus other artist's creations.

I'll also include interesting facts about the animals in the sculptures and links to animals organizations and artists websites so you can find as much art as you desire.

To see more of my sculptures, including non-animal art, check out my website at Sculptures by Frankie (www.sculpturesbyfrankie.com).

Come back as I will be adding new sculptures, artists and great resources and websites often!

My Latest News

Frankie Kangas in new book of artists

I'm in the book, Artists of the Mendocino Coast, Vol. 2. It just got my copy and it's gorgeous. I'm so excited and humbled being among the incredible artists in this book!

I've been told that the Fort Bragg area has the largest number of artists per capita than any place in the United States. And it is an amazing place to live and do art.

Nanuk, Lord of the Ice on left podium

What Kind Of Animal Do You Want To See?

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How I Got Started As An Artist

I Started Late, But With A Fury

When I was 9 years old I saw a showing of the works of Michelangelo in a museum. I was hooked on sculpture from the day I set eyes on his work. From then on I dreamed of someday working in clay and creating pieces like his. Why clay? I don't know. All I know is that all of my life, I've imagined myself working with clay.

But I spent the first half of my life building a business career in Silicon Valley (California). At age of 48, I retired from business, moved to the Fort Bragg (California), and began taking art classes at the College of the Redwoods. My initial training in sculpture gave me the opportunity to work with a variety of media: wood, stone, wire, wax, bronze, cement and clay. I found that working with clay was my true vocation, turning vision into reality.

Working with clay satisfies some deep tactile sense in me. I've found I do my best work when I can include both additive and subtractive modes, which isn't possible with many other media. I like being able to push and pull, pinch and twist -- to manipulate the clay into whatever shape I want at any time I want.

My sculptures incorporate a variety of finishing techniques -- raku, saggar, horsehair, stains and underglazes, plus both low-fire and high-fire glazes. Most of my work is stylized animal figures, including lions, bears and "fu dogs" (Chinese temple lions). I also create other abstract sculpture.

In addition to on-going art classes and almost obsessive research, I am studying under the tutelage of an accomplished local sculptor.

I donate 10% of all sculpture sales to the National Wildlife Federation to help save Polar Bears from extinction. I also donates 10% of all Internet sales to Big Cat Rescue to help big cats at their sanctuary in Florida.

Video -- Lions, Fu Dogs And Bears (OH MY!)

Some Of My Sculptures

Lions, Fu Dogs & Bears Oh My!

http://www.SculpturesbyFrankie.com Lions, Fu Dogs & Bears Oh My! - Sculptures And Art Work Of Frankie Kangas

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LIONS

Lions Sculpture Called "Nine Lives"

Here is one of my latest sculptures. I am fascinated by drawings and painting of pictures within pictures but have never seen it done in sculpture form, so I came up with this idea of a sculpture of a lion face, but made up a several lions. Below you can see the original drawing and the end result. It looks like it was carved from wood because instead of glazing it, I used stains, acrylics and waxes. For information on pricing, contact me at frankie@sculpturesbyfrankie.com.

9livesdraw3×3w.jpg

Nine Lives -- Can you find all 9 lions?

Young King

Ceramic - High Fire Glaze

This one-of-a-kind sculpture was individually hand-made using slab-built clay construction techniques and an armature of newspaper. As the sculpture dried, the newspaper was removed, the piece was bisque fired, then a coating of glaze was sprayed on the sculpture and it was high fired.

Size: 12 1/2" High x 10 1/2" Wide x 12" Deep

For more information and larger pictures click Sculptures by Frankie-felines (www.sculpturesbyfrankie.com/list-felines.php)

Young King and NWF

I donated "Young King", the sculpture displayed above to the National Wildlife Federation's (NWF) in 2008 dinner and auction event at Grant's Farm in St. Louis, MO.

NWF and Adolphus Busch are hosting the event to raise money to save and enhance wetland habitat that is home and haven to a myriad of wild creatures, including thousands of migrating water fowl. Julie Scardina of Sea World/Busch Gardens fame will MC the event.

Lion vs. Dog Chess Set

I've always been fascinated by chess sets and decided to create my own of Lions vs. Dogs. For more information and pictures of it, check out Unique Chess Sets

Chess set-lions vs dogs-004

Lion, Mother and Cub

Ceramic - Horsehair Raku

This one-of-a-kind sculpture was individually hand-made using slab-built clay construction techniques. The handcrafted piece was bisqued fired then during the raku firing, horsehair was burned onto the sculpture. As the hair is consumed by fire it twists and turns, producing a unique pattern. The sculpture was then scrubbed, waxed and buffed.

Size: 4" High x 6" Wide x 7 1/2" Deep

For more information and larger pictures click Sculptures by Frankie-felines (www.sculpturesbyfrankie.com/list-felines.php)

Pride

Ceramic Lion Sculpture

This one-of-a-kind sculpture was made using a slab of clay over a armature of newspaper. It was was bisque fired, sprayed with a glaze, then high-fired at cone 10.

Size: 10" High x 9" Wide x 12" Deep

For more information and larger pictures click Sculptures by Frankie-felines

Sleeping Lion (Mask) by Frankie Kangas

Video Of Lion Sculptures

Some Of My Work

* Lions *

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Walter S. Arnold

Stone Carver

Walter Arnold is one of my favorite stone carvers. His animals are terrific. Here's a favorite of mine.

Below is a lion Walter carved and that weighs 500 pounds. To see more click, Stone Carver

Big Cat Rescue

With Your Help, We Can Save These Big Guys!

Big Cat Rescue is one of the world's largest sanctuaries for wild cats. They provide a permanent retirement home for more than 100 lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, servals, caracals, sand cats, etc., representing 16 of the 35 species of exotic cat. Nowhere else can so many species of exotic cat be found in one place.

Click on the picture on the right to see how you can help.

If you love Tigers too, check out Hobbes at Funniest Calvin-and-Hobbes

FU DOGS or FOO DOGS

Just What Is A Fu Dog or Imperial Lion

Interesting Facts About Them

I started sculpting Fu Dogs because they are Chinese Lions an I lOVE lions. From the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD) until the end of the empire in 1911, Fu Dogs were powerful mythic protectors that have tradionally stood in front of Chinese imperial palaces, emperors tombs, government offices and homes of government officials and wealthy.

* Fu Dogs or Foo Dogs are also known as Imperial Lions, Temple Lions, Guardian Lions,Shi, or Ra shi da.

* They were traditionally carved from marble and granite or cast in bronze or iron.

* Traditionally presented as a pair with the male on the right and the female on the left.

* Having a pair of Fu Dogs in front of a home was a traditional symbol of a family's wealth or social status.

* Symbolically, the male fu dog guards the structure, while the female protects the inhabitants.

For more details about these mythical creatures click Imperial Gardian Lions

Fu Dogs -- China Trip Pictures

She's Baaack!
A good friend of mine just got back from China and recently came back. Here are her pictures of Fu Dogs.

Fu dogs-Temple of Heaven by thefranksterk

Pair of fu dogs in Beijing, China. Temple of Heaven.

Fu dog front-Temple of Heaven by thefranksterk

Fu dog front in Beijing, China. Temple of Heaven.

Fu Dog side-Temple of Heaven by thefranksterk

Fu Dog side in Beijing, China. Temple of Heaven.

fu dog foot-Temple of Heaven by thefranksterk

Foot of fu dog in Beijing, China. Temple of Heaven.

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Fu Dog - Small

Ceramic - High Fire

This is the smallest version of my smiling fu dogs
(I create 4 sizes). This one-of-a-kind sculptures was individually hand-made using pinch pot and coil clay construction techniques. When they dried they were sanded then bisque fired. Finally, they were sprayed with a glaze and high fired.

Size: 4" High x 4 1/4" Wide x 6 1/2" Deep
Base: 1 1/4" High x 4 1/2" Wide x 5" Deep

For more information and larger pictures click Sculptures by Frankie-fudogs (www.sculpturesbyfrankie.com/list-fudogs.php)

Fu Dog - XLarge

Ceramic - High Fire Glaze

Award Winner
Honorable Mention, Animal Contest
Mendocino Art Center in Mendocino, CA
March of 2007

Traditionally, fu dogs are fierce animals to ward away evil or bad juju. I make mine smiling and jolly. I take the, "I'll change evil into love" approach. This one-of-a-kind sculpture was individually hand-made using slab-built clay construction techniques and an armature of newspaper. As the sculpture dried, the newspaper was removed, the piece was bisque fired, then a coating of glaze was sprayed on the sculpture and it was high fired.

Size: 13" High x 11" Wide x 10" Deep
Base: 1 1/2" High x 10 1/2" Wide x 16 1/2" Deep

For more information and larger pictures click Sculptures by Frankie-fudogs (www.sculpturesbyfrankie.com/list-fudogs.php)