SigMT

24 | SIGNATURE MONTANA 24 | SIGNATURE MONTANA He has put in the work to aain an international following for his exquisite leather fish sculpture while keeping fishing, water, and art at the center of his world. He can always "go fish" out on a sparkling stream, a fast- flowing river, a nearby lake – or in his studio, where those experiences are recreated through the intricate tooled, painted, and sculpted leather pieces. His family and teachers saw the potential in him from the beginning, offering encouragement to pursue his passions and talents throughout his school years while he took advanced art classes. Staying the course, he focused on painting and earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of La Verne. He went on to study sculpture and received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Claremont Graduate University. Constantly creative, he explored other ways to express his art, including as a taoo artist stemming from a simple desire to ensure that his taoo-seeking friends were sure to have a personalized taoo worthy of its permanence. He also learned blacksmithing, which deepened his fascination with history and vintage items and inspired new works, such as a classic pair of weathered Chippewa boots mounted on a bear trap. Some of his early work introduced him to leather sculpture. He created "Rex," a seven-foot T-Rex skeletal leg made from huge rawhide dog bones, establishing a lasting fascination with leather as a medium. SHOW & TELL Details of the Outlaw Bucking Rainbow Trout reveal the use of leather vintage saddle tack and artifacts. Lance uses Montana agates to capture the glistening spots of a brown trout he made from tooled and painted leather.

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