Artwork Index Page

Robert Fullerton's style of wood sculpting artwork began because of the insistent mentoring influence of his adopted grandfather, "Grandpa" Holt.

"Grandpa" Holt began his own craftsman's apprenticeship as a youngster, as a merchant marine craftsman's mate, during the last part of the 1800's and early 1900's, aboard old wooden masted sailing [called "tall" ships] vessels. Grandpa Holt learned wood sculpting, and the journeyman's level craft of woodworking, aboard these vessels; perfecting his abilities and real skills as a craftsman and an artist. This craftsman's mate's art and trade (necessity of the craft) market began to fade out during the turn of the 20th century. The industrial age was soon in full swing and the old wooden "tall" sailing vessels soon gave way to the steam powered vessels.

Robert's Grandfather eventually found the necessity to leave that industry and ventured on to the movie sets as a journeyman wood sculpting craftsman; where he fabricated old, functional, wooden ships to scale for the many sailing movies being created during the early 20's and 30's. One such movie was "Mutiny on the Bounty". Grandpa Holt, during the great depression, also created for various contracting firms architectural decorative carvings for buildings; such as the gargoyles on the Los Angeles Times building and the two lions that stand in front of the Chicago Art museum in Illinois.

Robert learned the renaissance era journeymen craft, a craftsman-to-apprentice craft-art that used to be handed down from master to student. This is an ancient wood sculpting craft handed down from ancient artisans to Grandpa Holt and now to a grandson; a "master" who taken the lad under his wing at a very early age. This was a tradable craft and artform and was taught as it had been done and taught for many centuries. This tradition can be traced further back than the Roman Empire or the Egyptian pyrimid builders era.

With a sailors well honed stern eye, Grandpa Holt emphasized only one philosophy about his craft, which he instilled into Robert; "Perfection is acceptable; everything else is (scrap) crap". On Robert's mother's side of the family, from his other grand parents - Grandma and Grandpa Stokes -, Robert learned the world and craft of race cars and the appreciation of quality in ones abilities. Grandma and Grandpa Stokes ran in several of the early cross country rally's (pre "Gumball" Rally's) during the late 20's, 30's, and (up until) the early 40's, as well being members of the early motorcycle clubs of that era; participating in many of their functions as well.

There is only one more facet, adopted from Grandfather Dave Fullerton. Grandpa Fullerton was the constable of Taluca (later named North Hollywood) California for twenty four (24) years. Dave Fullerton's beat was the San Fernando Valley. He (Dave Fullerton), and his wife (who fed the prisoners in the jail house which was in the front yard of the family home), instilled a flare and importance of character, integrity, honor, and the importance of ones relative history in the youngster; referencing such characters a Bat Masterson and Wyatt Erpp - whom Dave Fullerton was associated closely. Dave Fullerton's cousin, George H. Fullerton worked with Charles Chapman (Charlie Chapman) in the development of the Valencia Orange. Orange County was named due to George H. Fullerton and Chapman's efforts. Fullerton California was named in George H. Fullerton's honor. As one might expect history, character, ability, and ones life-long theme became important to Robert. This is part of him; and it is shown in his work.

Artwork

Wood Carvings.

1969 California State Seal (1969)

Photo-2, with Model.
This carving was made, using a 10 foot by 10 foot by 6 inch piece slab, of thick clear redwood.

This carving was started, and almost finished, at the 1969 California State fair as a single man display carving a simple thick slab of redwood.

Bob Fullerton, the artist, was awarded the second place over all prize at the California State fair; The first place award was awarded to a multi-million dollar IBM computer display.

The (then) California State Governor, Ronald Regan, was to be presented the carving by the artist and sculptor (Robert Fullerton) at the show in Oakland. But the drivers of the moving company argued about as to how the artwork was to be secured into thier truck. Thus, this meant that the sizable art was mishandled and the carving, as it left Sacramento, in the actual move to the Oakland fair grounds would fail. The method that they used to tie the piece into the truck caused the wood to actually bend into the truck; and the cyclonic wind forces eventually were strong enough as to literally suck the 5,000 pound artwork out of the truck bed and wind up sliding face down, at 70 MPH, breaking into several small pieces on the freeway on the way to Oakland.

Brenda. Photo of the finished carving of this girl.

Brenda (a) . A visual of the scale reference of the carving.
Brenda (b). Finishing the lower half
Brenda (c). Facial detail of the carving.
Brenda (d) . Just before the burning and finishing with tung oil a wax.

Claudius.
An imposing, famous, roman soldier, citizen, and eventual Caesar (ruler) of the Roman Empire.

Once the sculpture was completed, the carving went on display at a Bank of America office, South Lake Tahoe, in 1968; and eventually it was to be sold to a prominant lawyer from Sacramento.

Roman Crucifixian of Christ
After many months of researching historical documents about how the Roman Society, and Roman soldiers, crucified an individual, the nuns and churches in the local area, at first (and for many years afterwords), were not happy; as this carving, and work, did not depict the "nails being hammered through the palms of Christs hands" and did not show the crossbeam (just set upon the post) placement as dictated by the accepted doctrine handed down vatican.

After many, many years, and many scholalary researched reports depicting the methodology of crucifixians by the church (and not by the church); the consensis finaly came about that this artistic recreation was acutate and in these very details, which therefore now became accepted.

Church doctrine proved to be contentious for many years, until the broadcasting of PBS's NOVA and the History channel had scholars that produced episodes that depicted the actual method "and science" which the Roman soldiers used in dispatching a victim, or enemy, of the state or church.

This sculptured wood artwork was unfortunately lost in a storage room fire where it was being stored; located in Incline Village, Nevada, in 1970. It was discovered that the lindseed oil finishing rags in close proximity to a water radiator heated the rags and the heat was enough to cause the spontaneous combustion. Over time it has been learned that lindseed oil will combust when left in an open container; it's that volatile in a heated environment.
1. Crucifix Modeled by a beautiful assistant, as it was being carved.
2. The thorned crown of Christ Photographic detail of that thorny crown of which the roman soldiers placed opon his head. The thorns were from a local plant, called a "Jewish Thistle"; a most common weed that grew wild in the region at that period of time.
3. Wrist Detail This detail is what upset many nuns; which, came by to observe and debate this work in progress. There were many words, and many, that demanded that the artist "immediately change" this depiction. The artist, after proving his point however, was contested and the church held its ground for many many years.
  The churches position was held only until definitive proof was presented, within and outside church, resources that finally changed thier position and could not dispute the resolution of the debate.
Sprint Car.
Schneider's Miller. A tribute to a fifth generation race car builder, driver, and a fellow inventor; Pete Schneider.
Jeanne's Rose. A large, sculpted slab of black oak, relief study of a flower in full glory; given to the wife.
John Davidson.
Horse Head. The three dimensional portrait of the winged horse Pegasus; of ancient mythology.
Snow Hawk - Totem. This totem of the wooden snow hawk, a facsimile of the indigenous North American snow hawk, is the same hawk that Chief Joseph carried in the glass relief (below). Chief Joseph was believed to have carried a similar artifact during his fight and flight across the American plains to Canada during the attempt to salvage the Nez Pierce tribe from the onslaught of the horseback mounted General Custer Calvary; during the late 1890's.
Fish (a modern sculpted composition).
Centurian. A sculptured rendition of a Roman citizen, standing in a curtain draped window, with his sword drawn at his side.
This sculpture was constructed from the wood of an old wood crate.
The Deer Scene wood carving.
Sculpted from " thick white pine, in front of the Incline Potlatch art studio. (1973)

Glass Carvings.

Jeanne's Rose. Same composition artwork as of that sculpted in wood (above) done in glass.
Chief Joseph Nez Pierce, on horse back; in a glass sculpture relief.
Deer Scene. Same glass sculpture composition as the wood carving (above), of the deer scene. This relief carving sculpture is using a single piece of colored tempered glass that was once, originally, a mirror once was used in a Nevada brothel during the turn of the century. This glass was sought out because of its unique coloring process that is not present in present-day mirrors, or other types, of tempered reflective glass.

Drawings and Portraits.

Self Portrait. - every, "true", artist has to have just one!
Portrait of the ex-wife. - Jeanne
Blue Girl.
Pink Girl.
Portrait of Model