Art-Bio.Com, Intrest of C. Robert Farlow

Items of Interest about C. Robert Farlow

In the early 1960s, Robert was a missionary in the Cayman Islands and was fascinated by seamen working on the rigging of an old turtle schooner. He made sketches and took slides of the sailors and even spent time sailing on the Lydia E. Wilson, the last schooner to be built on Grand Cayman. Nearly forty years later Robert created a series of paintings of the schooner, the sea, and the people of the Cayman Islands. Eight of these paintings hang in the National Museum of the Cayman Islands. The museum officials became interested when Ruby Smith, a Caymanian, showed them photographs of the paintings. She had returned to the Cayman Islands after living with Robert and his wife Judy while she attended school in the United States.

The Thatch Gatherer - 36 x 24 - Oil by Robert Farlow

Robert's artistic talent was not limited to painting. When his realistic style of painting was not "in fashion" he began woodcarving and sculpting. Robert worked several summers with German sculptor Georg Keilhofer, producing a number of religious sculptures in wood. His talent was widely recognized and Robert created numerous wood and bronze commissions for schools and hospitals. His submission for the Indiana High School Athletic Association centennial won best of show and is featured in the IHSAA lobby. He was also invited to demonstrate and display sculptures at Disney World two consecutive years.

Robert's carving tools next to a work in progress

While most bronze sculptors use clay to add layers until they get the form they are seeking, Robert carves away layers of wood to get to his final creation. Most of Robert's sculptures are wood carvings. He takes a finished carving to the White River Foundry in Spencer to have the piece reproduced in bronze.

Falcon by Robert Farlow in wood and in bronze

More Items of Interest about C. Robert Farlow

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