Sculpture | TEN BULLS

6. Riding the Bull Home

Mounting the bull, slowly I return homeward.
The voice of my flute intones through the evening.
Measuring with hand-beats the pulsating harmony, I direct the endless rhythm.
Whoever hears this melody will join me.

~Kaku-an Shi-en

Comment: This struggle is over; gain and loss are assimilated. I sing the song of the village woodsman, and play the tunes of the children. Astride the bull, I observe the clouds above. Onward I go, no matter who may wish to call me back.

~Kaku-an Shi-en

Sculpture

Sculpting was never something I was aware I could do until a friend gave me a small chunk of Sculpey in 1992. I fashioned it into a buffalo skull with so much detail even I was amazed. Since that time I have learned to let myself be amazed at the things the clay turns into. When I am sculpting it doesn't seem like I am really there, it's just sculpting happening. If you have an idea you would like to see in 3 dimensions, e-mail me.

Click here to view work in progress.

Below:These sculptures were made by Doug Gaylord, using Super Sculpey, and are based on the "Ten Oxherding Pictures"of a Sung Dynasty Zen Master by the name of Kaku-an Shi-en. Also known as "The Ten Bulls" of Zen Buddhism, the pictures, along with poetic clues and introductory notes, are said to outline the gradual development of the Zen life. Click on any medallion to see the original artworks that inspired the set.