Glow Monkey Studio

Bronze sculptor, Anthony D. Esparsen, standing along the river in Talkeetna, Alaska, 2007.

In December 2006, Anthony closed the book on his Graphic Design/Art Directing career and made the decision to pursue his lifelong dream of sculpting fulltime...

Artists Biography

As a native Hispanic from Santa Fe, New Mexico, it was probably fate that drew me to the world of art.  I couldn’t begin to count how many times I have strolled through the ever-changing galleries along Canyon Road and the Santa Fe Plaza.  I always knew that I was an artist, but in order to make a living, I had primarily focused my creative efforts on a career as an Art Director and Graphic Artist.

Years ago, while I was working in southern California as a grunt in the printing industry, I considered changing careers and applied for a position to develop movie visual effects with Stan Winston Studios.  I created the 4 sculptures you see in Appendix A in order to demonstrate my skills.  I didn’t have enough money to buy large amounts of clay for each piece, let alone have them cast, so I simply created a piece, photographed it, and recycled the clay for the next one.  I developed a complete portfolio and submitted it for consideration.  I was offered an entry-level position, but at $10,000.00 less than I was making at the time, I felt I had to turn it down.  Being young and naïve, I didn’t fully comprehend the magnitude of this decision until years later when Stan Winston developed special effects for movies like Terminator and Jurassic Park.  The only remnant of this poignant moment in my life was the one copy of the portfolio I developed and the final clay sculpture of the old Native American man.

Today, I work part-time and sculpt full-time.  I have finished and cast my first two pieces including the old man from my past.  He is now formally called “Portrait of a Vanishing Breed”.  It is amazing to see him so full of life and energy.  In addition, I had a vision of Don Quixote as a realistic individual.  I have often seen him portrayed as an impressionistic figure, but I wanted something more.  Something that pulled the true courage and intent out of Cervantes’ story.  My second piece titled “The Quest” was my vision of the infamous Man for La Mancha.  My current third piece is well on it’s way to completion.  I have included a few images of a work in progress roughly titled, “Soldier’s Jacket.”

Thank you for taking the opportunity to share my journey and work with you.  I am looking forward to claiming my destiny and living a life that God intended when he gave me this gift.

Anthony Esparsen