Three Faces of Guinevere —
by Joy Beckner

Description:

Designed to be viewed in-the-round, this life-sized sculpture of a growing puppy is mounted on a rotary bronze and mahogany base. In October 2000, I walked my dachshunds, Lizzie and Edgar, and stopped to see our neighbor Joanlee Ferrara and her two-month-old puppy Guinevere. I’d never wanted to sculpt a fluffy puppy, but Guinevere was absolutely adorable. She won my heart with her eyelashes that wouldn’t stop! In December, I mustered the nerve to ask Joanlee if I could work on a clay sculpture of Guinevere in her kitchen. She said yes, but my, how Guinevere had grown! Suddenly I had a new goal. I would create a three-in-one puppy portrait. It would range in age from two months to eight months! I redesigned the armature and quickly created the four-month puppy. Then, I blocked in the younger and the older puppies and waited for Guinevere to grow. When I returned in April to complete the largest head, I could not believe how much more Guinevere had grown. Her head was an inch longer than I had blocked in. Because I didn’t live with Guinevere, I used photos for reference, but it was great to have Guinevere for life studies for the four-month and the eight-month ages. Finally, I completed the youngest puppy from memory and Joanlee’s marvelous photos. In Spring 2005, when I saw Guinevere for the first time in years, I discovered she had grown long hair on her ears. WOW! A mystery had been solved! My discovery of longer hair on the ears of five-year-old Guinevere helps me understand why “Three Faces” and "Over the Rainbow” have been adopted by those who love Goldens and by those who love Labs! Thank you! “Three Faces” is mounted on a rotary mahogany base, topped with a piece of perfectly round bronze that was fabricated by waterjet. “Three Faces” is crafted by hand, one at a time in Colorado, USA. Each is signed, numbered and includes my mark, JKß. Coast to coast, collectors have placed “Guinevere” in a bookcase, on a mantel, a window seat, on a pedestal - and on a dining room table. Enjoy!