My initiation into sculpture was through my father Jesse
Raymond Ellison who worked in both clay and paper Mache.
He was an excellent sculptor, mold maker, mask maker and painter.
I studied fine arts at William & Mary in Williamsburg VA
and concentrated in sculpture under Carl Rosenberg.
After graduation, I went on to medical school and a career as a cardiac surgeon.
I continued sculpting during my medical career.
When I left practice I spent three years teaching anatomy in the
Caribbean at the Medical University of the Americas.
Since my return I have done some portrait and figure sculpture
but have concentrated on representative sculptures in granite.
I am interested in representative work focusing on the relationship
of the subjects of the sculpture (parent and offspring, Cat and implied mouse).
I have tried to evoke the personal connection in the subjects.
Granite is fascinating as it has multiple appearances
depending on how it is finished.
I always try to retain some element of the stone in its natural state.
In contrast other portions of the work are finished to a high degree.
I think this allows for an appreciation of the transformation of the
raw granite to a piece of sculpture. I would like the viewer to appreciate
not only what was inside the block of stone but have some
idea of the stones original appearance.
Lee H Ellison
