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RandyHand — george the tortoise
Published: 2007-08-15 15:47:09 +0000 UTC; Views: 9905; Favourites: 186; Downloads: 192
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This is one of my bigger undertakings. George measure close to 6 1/2 feet long. He's hollow cast bronze but still weighs close to 500 lbs. He's dedicated and named after Lonesome George from the Galapagos. If you google "Lonesome George Galapagos" it's a pretty cool but sad story.Related content
Comments: 61
Thank you so much! It was a LOT of work to put that detail in.
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Inspiring! I think you are a maker of some fairy tale world!
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You are too kind....Thanks so much for your message and for the watch and fave!
Take care
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Just awesome! I would love to hav one of these in my yard!
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Thanks so very much!
That's a great idea!
Take care
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Thanks so much!
All my best to you,
Take care
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Thanks so much!
She was the perfect little model for me.
She is a friends grandaughter that helped give a sense of proportion to my pieces...
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Wow! I just saw your post under Larkin's painting of Lonesome George (which I am so happy I commissioned), & had to check out your work. When you said sculpture, I had no idea you meant life-sized. Absolutely breathtaking! I wish I had the money to commission another one for my yard, but I know better than to ask. Stellar work.
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Thanks so very much for your kind words...
What a great commission for you to own...
Larkin's work is so incredible and the Lonesome George is no exception.
Congratulations on getting such a wonderful work of art.
Thanks again for the great comment!
Take care
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My kind words toward you were warranted. The sculpture is amazing.
As for the Larkin piece, I absolutely fell in love with a previous creation of him (Sir Sheldon Sterling), but did not have the money to purchase him at that time. He sold of course, but it made me start researching tortoises again (I always wanted to own a giant tortoise, but they have a tendency to destroy small yards like mine). Once I found George, I knew he was the one. Apparently you felt the same way.
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Thanks again man...
yeah, he is one talented guy.
Everything he does has such depth to it.
Tortoises are truly amazing creatures.
It was funny because we were flipping through channels and on HGTV they were doing a remodel and they were putting in a tortoise run.
I've heard conflicting reports on George and whether his alive still or not, and also that he actually bred with a female...
Have you heard?
Every time we do an art show, someone tells us about a trip they've made to the Galapagos and how amazing those tortoises are....Gotta do that trip in my lifetime.
George has definitely got a place in my heart...
I had to make a table top size, garden size, and then of course, the super size....
I can only afford to have the first two sizes in our home...heh heh.
Thanks again for the comments my friend!
Take care
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There are a couple of recent reports from the BBC that I saw on George (from November & December 2009 if I remember correctly) that showed him very much still alive & well. He did finally mate a couple of times (2008 & 2009 I think) with a similar turtle (half Pinta Island/half another kind of tortoise), but the eggs never hatched as of January of this year. I've heard that his species has been known to reach 150 years in age though, so he still has time to get the mating thing down. Plus they have a team of 30+ scientists trying to keep George & various Galapagos turtles from extinction, so there is always hope. Definitely need to make the Galapagos trip myself in the future.
What are the sizes & info on the other versions of your sculpture? Send me a PM note later, will you? I know they are probably still out of my range since they are bronzes, but I always have a wish list too.
Thanks again!
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Thanks so much for the great update.
I was hoping he was still alive and well.
Yeah, a Galapagos trip would be an amazing experience and probably life changing.
I'll send you a note on the sizes of the other pieces.
I'll have to go through my gallery and see if I have any pics of the 3 ft. long size...
Gotta get some coffee in me before I try to figure out what these things cost...
I'm real easy to work with though.
Talk to you soon
Thanks so much,
Take care
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No rush. Like I said, I'm probably not in the financial target market for your work (or any fine art sculpture for that matter), but asking never hurt anybody. Plus a man can always dream. That's also what bonuses & unexpected windfalls are for.
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Not a problem Josh...
Hope you don't mind me using your name....
I figure we've passed enough messages to use our names...heh heh
Anyways, I'll let you know what my price on those would be.
I try to bring it down as far as possible for people that really appreciate my work.
Believe it or not, it's not about the money....that always takes care of itself.
I also have resin cast versions of those pieces as well so that keeps the costs down as well.
Either way, don't ever worry about it...
I just appreciate people liking my junk.
Have a great Memorial Day weekend!
Take care,
Randy
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Hey Randy,
Formalities are for the uptight, so I definitely don't mind you referring to me by my name.
You seem to have a similar philosophy to myself & most of the people here. If people were trying to become rich off their art, they are probably business people not artists in the first place. I've sold a number of prints here & didn't make squat (DA's cut very much favors the company not the artist). I posted the stuff I have on my account because I'd rather someone who liked my stuff have a copy than be Greedy Smurf & sell it for "gallery prices". Glad to hear that you feel the same.
Looking forward to getting more info. Resin may be the way to go for affordability, but I'm definitely curious about both. Thanks again!
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Thanks Josh...yeah, I'm the same way with the whole formality thing...
Of course, I've come across some people here that I kinda gotta keep my distance from and keep things formal...
Just a few freaks now and then to keep things unpredictable....
Yeah, I've had a few print requests for some of my flat work and even shots of my 3d work but don't really feel like DA should get a cut of anything I post.
I liked your Greedy Smurf reference...that cracked me up.
We just got back from a trip to Sedona Arizona so that's why I couldn't get back to you till now...I apologize.
I'm still reeling from the last Daily Deviation in April and still have a ton of other messages to reply to as well but I keep putting that off.
Talk to you soon,
Take care,
Randy
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Can't say I blame you when it comes to giving all of your earnings to DA. I was fairly shocked when I saw how little the artists make off their work here, but I am personally just using it to have a place to collect me work as well as get prints to the few people who are interested, quickly & without any real effort on my part (that would be the Lazy Smurf part of me speaking).
I can only imagine how many messages you got after getting a Daily Deviation. When I posted that big batch of work I got over 5 dozen messages as well as numerous faves, Llamas, etc. Took me several days just to respond to those, & a DD has WAY further reaching power than just uploading stuff does.
Hope you enjoyed the trip!
Josh
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Nah, I wouldn't call you lazy Smurf, I'd call you practical or efficient Smurf.
That would actually be a fun line of characters if you took off with it.
Like murderer Smurf, Lecherous Smurf, etc. etc.
yeah, the mailbox was pretty full from that one.
I think it was up to 3000 for a bit but I've whittled it away a bit.
Thanks, yep, it was an amazing trip...
We'll be going back again soon, when we can spend more time.
Have a great weekend man!
Take care,
Randy
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I think I need to work on a "Pragmatic Smurf" stencil after this conversation! You've inspired me, what can I say? Hah!
3000 messages huh? Did it at least pay off some sort of dividend, ie: did it bring you a new commission? Sadly most of the artists I've talked to here say that they get a lot of attention but very little work out of their membership. I'm personally having a great time here so I'm not bothered, but I also don't make a living through my art (in fact, currently it is costing me an arm & leg to play artist boy).
Glad you had fun on the trip, whether or not you had enough time to do everything you'd hoped to accomplish. I feel the same way every time I go to NY. At least you get to go back soon.
Talk to you later,
Josh
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Hey Josh...
Sorry for such a late response...it's been crazy busy.
Just got back from a trip to Minnesota as well...
Ah...yes...Pragmatic Smurf...brilliant!
I think the possi-smurf-abilities are endless.
I do sell the occasional small piece here on DA but mainly it's just more for fun and seeing what's out there from other artists.
I've been fortunate enough to make a living from my sculpting for the last 9 years so I'm lucky.
The art shows we did for 8 years are really paying off now.
My wife wants me to see NY one day...
I'm such a nature boy though so it may put me in a catatonic shock....
Great to hear from you!
Take care,
Randy
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Glad you had fun in Minnesota! One of my best friends goes there every Summer (specifically Minneapolis) for about a month to soak up the place. I've never been, but definitely intend on doing so at some point. BTW, nature boy or not, NYC is one of the most amazing places you could ever visit. It is a bit overwhelming (especially in Manhattan proper), but after a few days the adjustment starts to happen. The main shock for me was walking everywhere. In my town (San Antonio) if you want to get somewhere, you jump in the car & park in front of the place you are going. NYC, you have to take a cab (expensive) or subway & walk 15 or 20 blocks. Which explains why I'm fat & just about everyone there is in better shape
When I hear any talented artist is making a living off their craft makes me happy. I know so many struggling, unbelievably talented people who have not been so fortunate. I guess the busting your butt for all that time is working out, so bravo to you sir. You definitely deserve to be able to do what makes you happy. BTW, when you get the chance, PM me those prices (from smallest to largest) if you don't mind. It's nice to know exactly how many banks I need to hold up to bring George into the family
Talk to ya later,
Josh
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Hey Josh!
I do plan on seeing NYC at one point...I know my wife will insist that I do since she is in love with it.
San Antonio eh?
We went through there for a few years in a row on our way to art shows.
We did the by-pass though since we were pulling a trailer of bronzes....not fun in hectic traffic.
Yeah, it's rewarding for this art thing to be paying off.
I guess it's just a matter of weathering the storm and always being passionate about what I'm doing and trying to keep a unique twist on things.
I'm going to PM you right now with the prices...
Hope all is great man!
Take care,
Randy
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I would LOVE to have this in my backyard. I would sit on it and think all the time.
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I would LOVE to have this in my backyard. I would sit on it and think all the time.
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Poor Lonesome George, I know his story.
This work is so amazing, can't belive my eyes (ok, of course I can 
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just wondering, what do you do with these once you've made them? Surely you don't have an army of bronze creatures in your backyard?
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Actually we have a couple at a time...
I wish I could afford to have my own army, but they get sold and shipped off usually.
Thanks for the comment!
Take care
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im from ecuador and know the george it is a beatifull turtle and today he is father and now no more extintion for the island
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Thanks so much for that information!
That is great news...
Take care
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Holy cow, you made this? Its amazing! I love your artwork, I must watch you to see what else you create!
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Thanks so much for your kind words and support...
and thanks for the watch as well!
Take care
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You're welcome! Your artwork is amazing.
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Another amazing one!
So how do you hollow bronze cast it? Do you do it yourself or pay a place to do it? I imagine doing that kind of casting must be pricy.
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Thank you!
Actually if you check out [link] and click on the video it will show you the process...
Very interesting and a great place that I used to work.
They also cast all my work.
Bronze casting is definitely not cheap.
thanks again and thanks for the watch,
Take care
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Thanks for the link. I love to learn more about bronze casting. Take care.
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You bet!
It really is a fascinating process!
Take care
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Too funny. You're right...George and Bob both seem pretty happy!
Thanks again for the comments! Take care
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I was talking about George and the girl
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