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Show Sculpting What 1. sieShoed Esther Benedict spent nearly two decades shoeing horses before she welded the skills of blatksmithing and her ihddhood love of art into a new profession as a sculptor. certified The native New Yorker and Texas transplant had risen to the highest rank possible faced before she burnout profession of blatksmithing journeyman farrier in the and sought something new in 1995. "1 kind of started with everything furniture, sculptures anything that sounded fun, she says. 1 "Through doing that found my niche." "Most people thought I was nuts because I had no real art education," she says. "Everyone always said, 'Youre going to be a starving artist, and 1 said 'Oh, no, I'm not." CALL & RECEIVE THIS TOLL-FRE- E GENUINE SAPPHIRE RING Those unlikely beginnings translated into a profitable and successful sculpturing business that Benedict runs from her small ranch in Bandera, Texas (pop. 957). 1 ler niche is the equestrian crowd of horse owners and ranchers line sculpture steeds that who commission her to sculpt FREE life-siz- e, seem to ride the wind. You've got to see things the way they are, and the way they should be, and make the two work," she says. "It is not planned. It just comes to life." ($65.00 RETAIL APPRAISAL VALUE) Gloria Austin bought more than 20 Esther Benedict originals for her equine resort in Florida. The way we have the wildlife sculptures placed, most people if not told they are statues presume they are seeing real animals," Austin says, adding that one groundskeeper panicked the first time he saw a Benedict panther crouching in the tundra. Benedict creates her an in a large metal building that doubles as a stable for her three horses. Torches, welding tools, and metal scraps in various stages of completion dot the cluttered workshop a shiny buffalo, a small pair of horns destined to frame the head of a bird ready to take flight, and a largemouth bass snagged by a lure. "Its fun to find the lines to go from straight bar stock to something that has life in it, she says. "Different pieces have different feelings for everyone. life-si- Over one carat ofgenuine sapphire with dazzling cubic zirconia accent stones this Genuine Sapphire Ring was taken to New York's famous Diamond District where it was professionally appraised by an independent, registered gemologist. Normally, he said, you could, expect to pa up to $65.00 retail for a ring of this quality. Our Genuine Sapphire Ring features a 1.05 faceted cubic zirconia, set in a carat Sapphire elegantly accented with .72 carats of precision hand-cu- t MKTI gold electroplate ring. A black velveteen gift box accompanies each ring. Best of all, if you call now you can get this beautiful ring absolutely FREE plus $4.95 p&h. we're celebrating over 500,000 jewelry items sold. Our loyal customers and readers have hat's right helped make our genuine sapphire ring one of the most popular items we offer. This limited offer is our way of saying thank you. So make sure to take action before January 31, 2003, so you won't miss out. Have your Visa", Mastercard, American Express or Discover card handy to today. Available in whole sizes place your order. Order 1 toll-fre- e tltlM Sorry, no mail orders accepted. Limited 1 ? Simpty wrap thl Don Y know your ring handy atam mound four ting to find out per household. Satisfaction Guaranteed. VISIT Olfll WEB SITD peEdbarsdNkxwe 1 C 2002 National Syndications Inc General Offices: 6 Commercial Street, Hicksville, NY PJ42-A- 1 1801 That makes me feel good that I've created something that other people enjoy." Ohio rancher Don Bauer owns one of Benedicts towering steeds, Fetl'n Good. "His eyes seem to follow you when you are moving around him," Bauer says. "I always find it amazing how a woman artist can take 1 ,200 feet of smooth steel rod and turn it into life and energy." The path from shoeing horses to sculpting metal art has been a long one, but Benedict says the shoe finally fits. Being a sculptor is what I was put here to do. I have had many varieties of jobs over the years, but when I became a sculptor, it all fit into place, like the last piece of a puzzle." Pauline Word is a freelance uriter in Austin, Texas. |