Freehand Sculptures

The following are examples of some of the natural history sculptures created over the years by Gary Hoyle for museums and individuals.

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Turtles
The turtle sculptures have a carved polystyrene core.  The core of the shell is overlaid with a layer of epoxy-clay, which is shaped, allowed to set, then sanded.  The scutes [growth plates on the surface of the shell] are drawn on this sanded surface, creating a "map" for sculpting scutes individually.  The head and neck, limbs and tail are sculpted separately.  The eyes are also made separately.  After all parts are painted, they are joined with epoxy-clay then the joints are colored to match the rest of the turtle.  The above is an alert male wood turtle (Clemmys insculpta​) in its brilliant breeding colors.

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Adult male eastern box turtle [Terrapene carolina] emerging from its hinged shell.

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Young adult female eastern painted turtle [Chrysemys picta picta]

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Amphibians

The sleeping toad consists of a crumpled aluminum foil core overlaid with polymer clay, sculpted with a variety of tools and then painted with acrylic colors.

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Paleo-sculptures

These two photographs are different views of the same sculpture.  Using research drawings of a skull extrapolated from fossil fragments, Mr. Hoyle carved a

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tiny block of colored epoxy to create a complete "skull" at life-size of the smallest Cretaceous mammal known.  The lower jaw was carved separately so that the sculpture's mouth can move.  Teeth were created from a slightly different colored epoxy. 

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Mr. Hoyle developed a process of creating artificial ice, which he has used both in museum exhibit work and as a fine arts medium.  This example is a 36" by 22" by 5" wall hanging. 

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​The "Rock" was created with mixed media - life mask molding, wire mesh,  kalkote base plaster, real treated lichens and glass eyes.