Majestic Horse Sculptures Made from Driftwood

Heather Jansch’s stunning, life-size sculptures of horses are made entirely of driftwood. The majestic and almost mythical looking beasts are composed by fashioning pieces of wood to a fiberglass-covered steel frame, complete with bronze or lead hooves. The results are incredibly breathtaking, with textures and form that resemble the actual musculature of the equine creatures. Click through for a closer look at Jansch’s impressive, beautiful work.


Image credit: Heather Jansch [Spotted via MyModernMet]

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Heather Jansch says of Butterfield: "in the 1970's... as emerging unknown artists, with the Atlantic between us, it would have been nigh on impossible for us to have even heard of each other, never mind copy, each others work. Why would any artist want to copy another anyway? To my mind that has to be the most unimaginative and boring thing to do." More on her Facebook page notes (click the link)

I think Deborah's style is compeltely different and the two artists can't even begin to be compared. Deborah is much more abstract and works with many different mediums (not really my thing). This sculpture is amazing, I love how it makes you feel as if you are looking at the moving muscles!

I'd never heard of Deborah Butterfield until now. I googled her. Her work is fucking ugly and not even remotely comparable to this. Wankers.

I especially enjoy image #6. I like how the relationship between mare and foal is expressed here. I like the sense of movement, and the angle of photography that captures these sculptures to such advantage.

I agree with Don Hanover. I think this is absolutely amazing! Who gives a hoot if some other artist did this first, art is art. So, if someone used one art medium does that mean someone else can't use the same materials? I do think Deborah Butterfield's pieces are amazing, I certainly can't do what she does, but when it comes to being more precise and lifelike, I think Heather Jansch nailed it!

Talk about the art. If you don't like it that's your opinion, but to have this constant one note bull shit about another artist shows a myopic view of art and artists which seems to miss the whole point ... it frankly seems to be a little suspect when the comments just promote another artist - actually, ALL the comments except mine.

Deborah Butterfield's work is and always will be more lyrical and emotional than these.

I suggest that an artist's work be looked as the artist's work and not be dismissed automatically if it resembles the work of someone else or uses the same materials. The whole genre of work in wood like this pops up everywhere. I lived last year in Santa Fe and saw pieces of art which often resembled animals out in public and not public places in larger and smaller scale. To dismiss the art is to say that whomever did the first marble statue of David means that when Michelangelo came along statues like that were already done. Perhaps it would be possible to enjoy the images with a fresh eye rather than just say it looks like Butterfield's. So what?

I have to echo these comments; at first glance thought these were Butterfield's work. These are indeed not as subtle and eloquent as her' sculptures.

Indeed, Butterfield's work is far superior and oft imitated. Flavorpill, I'm a little disappointed in you.

um, yeah. before reading the comment above, my immed response was: I think Deborah Butterfield came first. And much more elegantly, openly, poetically.

Hello? Artist Deborah Butterfield has been doing this, and arguably better, for years: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deborah_Butterfield