Posted on 01/15/2013 1:30:30 PM PST by Slings and Arrows
Tim Racer, an Oakland, area artist, is known for his unusual work – carving beautiful, lifelike, custom carousel “dogs.”
Racer’s passion began while helping to restore old carousel horses. He enjoyed the work so much that he decided to try his hand at carving his own. “My pit bull Sally was a natural subject so I thought I’d give her likeness a try,” Racer says. “People really responded to that carving, so I’ve been busy carving carousel dogs ever since.”
These works of art are labor intensive. Each carousel dog requires up to 700 hours to create. Racer’s dogs are commissioned by enthusiastic dog owners looking for an unique way to celebrate their dogs. “It’s the best part of what I do,” Racer says. “Meeting like-minded people who have passions for their dog…and my art.”
Each piece is lovingly created, incorporating the dog’s personality. One model named Chloe is ball-obsessed, so Racer incorporated her favorite tennis ball into the sculpture. Graham, another subject, loved his mom’s dragon collection so much that she gave him a stuffed one, expecting him to tear it apart. He didn’t and, instead, took excellent care of it. Racer carved a sweet little dragon riding on Graham’s back.
Racer’s love and dedication to honoring dogs doesn’t end with his art. He’s also the founder of BAD RAP, a pit bull rescue that he founded in 1999 with his wife. Racer says they were inspired to start Bad Rap because of his sweet rescued pit bull, Sally. When they founded the organization there were few pit bull rescues and they wanted to help. In between Racer’s artwork, the rescue and the couple’s three dogs of their own, it’s pretty busy. “Never a dull moment!” Racer says.
Ping!
That is simply mind blowing.
Agreed. Puts so-called modern art to shame.
That is some incredible skill.
He really captured the dogs’ souls.
Pretty much. Bur what will he now do with them? ‘)
Seriously though, the level of detail and emotion is incredible. That guy must have spent an enormous amount of time studying dogs in motion. And a lot of different dogs to boot as they all move differently.
That is genuine talent right there, all the way around.
Modern art is not art.
It’s pretentious garbage that people pretend to understand so the ~other~ people pretending to understand too it won’t think they’re stupid.
What comment got pulled up there?
There seems to always be one at the start of every dog ping, lately.
That’s talent !!!
I love the one with the tennis ball in it;s mouth. The only problem is that when the carousel picks up speed, slobber gets all over the rider!
The pulled comment was probably a duplicate post. FR’s been stuttering quite a bit lately.
“Piss Christ” says everything I need to know about modern art.
*chuckle*
I hear you. I wish I’d know about this fellow when my little JRT was alive.
Woww these sculptures are awesome!
Thanks for posting.
“I love the one with the tennis ball in it;s mouth.”
That’s my fave too!
My pleasure.
These are wonderful. I always want to know how things are done. Are they wood carvings then painted?
I truly have no idea. I can only appreciate their beauty.
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