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Jeff Gottfried Art

  • Instruction+Courses
  • Commission a Sculpture
  • Portraits
    • Why a Portrait
    • The Process
  • About
    • Biography
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    • Shows and Awards
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Commission a timeless Fired Clay Sculpture by Jeff Gottfried. With the use of Fired Clay over Bronze the artist remains control over the sculpture and creates a unique and timeless piece. Read more about Fired Clay over Bronze below!

Ready to start the process of commission your own pieces? Fill out the form below to set up a discovery call and get a quote.

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Why choose Jeff Gottfried’s Fire Clay method over Bronze:

Timeless: Creating art with clay is an ancient form of human expression, tracing back to prehistoric times. Utilizing materials directly from the earth evokes a profound connection to age-old traditions and timeless cultural continuity.

Sustainability: Ceramic art, particularly through methods like raku and pit firing, requires less energy and generates less waste compared to bronze. It also involves fewer synthetic materials.

Artist Control: Artists maintain complete control over the entire creative process with ceramics, unlike bronze, which relies heavily on foundries with multiple steps and numerous artisans.

Direct Connection: The final ceramic work is crafted from the same clay that the artist has directly manipulated and perfected. This contrasts with bronze, which involves molds, wax patterns, and metal casting, leading to potential flaws.

Uniqueness: Each ceramic piece is inherently unique, with no duplicates, unlike bronze editions that can be replicated from molds.

Versatility of Finishes: The wide range of glazes, stains, underglazes, washes, and various firing atmospheres in ceramics create exquisite, distinctive finishes that surpass those achievable with bronze patinas.

Distinct Clay Textures and Colors: The textures and colors produced of fired clay, along with their reactions to different firing techniques, are unparalleled and cannot be replicated in bronze.

Skill and Knowledge: Sculpting and successfully firing ceramic works demand a distinct skill set and often a higher level of expertise compared to bronze. The process is more challenging due to potential issues like cracking, clay body reactions, and the intricacies of glaze recipes and firing techniques. Any failure means starting anew, but the uniqueness and beauty of the final piece justify the effort.

Affordability: The costs associated with ceramics, from the raw clay to the firing process, are significantly lower than those involved in bronze foundry work. This makes ceramic art more accessible while still offering profound artistic value.

Below are previously commissioned pieces.

Bonham Trophy

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Charles Goodnight Portrait Bust

Charles Goodnight (March 5, 1836 – December 12, 1929) is the best known rancher in Texas. Sometimes known as the "father of the Texas Panhandle," Goodnight, along with Oliver Loving, drove their first herd of cattle northward along what would become known as the Goodnight-Loving Trail in 1866.

The sculpture bust is on display at Goodnight’s original ranch house, which is now the Charles Goodnight Historical Center. It is the original ranch house of the JA Ranch, a historic cattle ranch in the Palo Duro Canyon. Founded in 1876 by Goodnight and John George Adair, it is the oldest cattle ranching operation in the Texas Panhandle.

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Of Two Worlds (First Financial)

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Firefighter

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Freedom Train

The overall installation consists of several components and materials. First, on the top left hand corner of the wall is a 4 ft x 1.5 ft bronze word plaque that will show lines from the poem, "Freedom Train," by Langston Hughes.

Flat against the wall, running in a curving manner from the lower left corner to the top right corner is a flat, aluminum, silhouetted train track and train. The track is a timeline and above the track are 3 stainless steel silhouettes with wall space in between. From left to right they are of a slave building the track, a porter carrying luggage, and a businessman holding a train ticket. The silhouettes are intended to attract immediate attention by communicating the dramatic yet simple message of African Americans' progression from slave to porter to businessman. A progression of attitude is also expressed in the body language of each, the slave's head and body facing downward, the porter more upright but still hunched over, and the businessman with head and shoulders held high. They are 6 inches out from the wall, held by steel bracing and lights are installed behind each for backlighting.

Below the train track are 4 sculpted bronze plaques that range in size from 3 feet x 2 feet to 5 feet x 2 feet. These provide specific visual and historical information about (1) Garfield Thompson, (2) the segregated benches (3) the segregated ticket counter, and (3) black railroad workers in Fort Worth's history. The style of the plaques is befitting of the strong art deco influences of the T&P building. Each plaque has an art deco border around it that is cast in bronze as part of the plaque and that incorporates the motifs from the moldings in the actual colored waiting room. Wording is also cast into the plaques to communicate their messages. All textures and shapes are crisp and smooth to enhance the art deco feel. The bronze coloration, juxtaposed with the stainless steel silhouettes, mimics the gold and silver colors in the moldings of the actual colored waiting room.

The wall itself shows between and around the other elements and is used as part of the overall design. The existing stucco texture is maintained, except that the lines etched into the wall and holes where current light fixtures exist will be filled in. The wall will then be painted yellow, orange, and blue/grey as according to drawing.

One of the actual restored benches from the colored waiting room sits facing the wall with ten feet of space in between. This bench is 18.5 feet long and will provide both a place for viewers to sit and study the wall, as well as a formalized area around the wall.

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In Good Hands

6 ft 7 in tall

Installed in front of Texas Health Huguley, Burleson, TX.

There is no better place for Jesus to be present than in a doctor's office. Here Christ guides the doctor's heart and hand - helping him to give the best possible care, make the right decisions, and set the patient and mother at ease. At the same time, Christ watches over the mother and baby as both their provider and protector.

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Jesus and the Children

Dimensions: 58" x 64" x 33"

This piece was commissioned by Crossroads Christian Church in Grand Prairie Texas in November 2013. The sculpture shows Jesus sitting on a sculpted stone with 4 children of varying ages surrounding him. It is a favorite location for photographs when a young person has just been baptized!

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Good Shepherd

6 ft 4 in tall

In front of Good Shepherd Catholic Community, Colleyville, TX.

This sculpture depicts Jesus standing on a mountain top, one hand holding a shepherd's staff, the other hand outstretched, as if beckoning to lost sheep. The wind gently blows through His hair and garments. A baby lamb and a yearling ram huddle beside him. The sculpture is the visual representation of the Christian mission, which is to not only seek the protection of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, but also to reach out as shepherds to guide others in the community.

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Crucifix

4 ft x 4 ft x 3 in

Good Shepherd Catholic Community, Colleyville, TX

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Back to Commission a Sculpture
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10
Bonham Trophy
4
Charles Goodnight Portrait Bust
5
Of Two Worlds (First Financial)
6
Firefighter
10
Freedom Train
6
In Good Hands
4
Jesus and the Children
8
Good Shepherd
6
Crucifix

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