Drawing, painting and sculpting come just as naturally as riding a horse for Len Monical of 108 Mile, and he does all with equal ease.
Born in 1939 to a ranching family in the state of Oregon, Monical has been riding and living the life of a cowboy forever. He began fostering his love of art at an early age on the insistence of an understanding schoolteacher who recognized his talent.
"She kept catching me sketching instead of doing my arithmetic, but she encouraged me to keep at it."
He followed his family north in 1962 when they traded their southern holdings for the 30,000-acre (12,140 hectare) 105 Mile Ranch. Ranching continued to be his life and he spread his wings to become successful as a competitor on a cutting horse, a cow dog trainer and trial competitor, and a horse trainer.
He knew the workings of all three through first-hand experience and it transferred to his artwork, particularly to bronze sculpting that caught his interest soon after 1980.
Knowing nothing about the artform, Monical created his first bronze sculpture using brass welding rods and a torch.
"I thought that was how they did it, but I finally realized I was wrong when it didn't turn out quite right."
He continues to hang on to that first piece, and while it's a little rough, he still managed to create an incredible amount of detail with his clumsy tools and inappropriate materials.
Curious to know more, Monical spent a couple of weeks in Florida, learning the proper technique from respected painter and sculptor, Eugene Shortridge.
From that point, he learned how to turn images from his imagination into fine pieces of art cast in bronze.
His artwork starts with a simple framework, which is covered with soft wax. The wax is molded and carved with detail into an image of the final product.
From this, a plaster mold is made and used to cast the artwork in rubber.
From the rubber form, additional heatproof molds are made which will receive molten metal for the final product.
After the metal is poured, set and cooled, it's ready for the artist to weld various pieces together, file and clean it.
Monical says he liked the challenge of learning something new, and before long, he'd perfected his technique to the point where he was commissioned to create several cast bronze trophies for equine events.
Perhaps the most important recipient of a Monical sculpture is Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who was presented with sculpture of a cowboy and his cutting horse in action, on his visit to Kamloops in 1983. Monical knew the prince had enjoyed riding a cutting horse on a visit to Douglas Lake Ranch in 1964, so he made him the memento.
Then Kamloops mayor, Mike Latta, presented the bronze piece, named "Pay Dirt," to the royal visitor, along with a letter from Monical.
Monical was thanked for his gift in a letter from Buckingham Palace and continues to receive accounts from people who have visited the palace as tourists, and seen his gift on display.
The sculpture was one of a limited edition of 15, but according to Monical, he prefers to limit copies to between 10 and 12. After the last planned piece has been cast, the mold is broken so no more can be made.
As for how many different sculptures Monical has created, his guess is about 50. His trademark style is one of intense action involving horses, cowboys, ranch and rodeo life, as well as wildlife.
He has experienced just about everything he sculpts, so the action and detail come from within. He knows every muscle of a horse and its every stance in a rodeo event.
"If you can't capture the action, all you have is a statue."
Monical says he also knows cow dogs and among personal favourites in his collection of sculptures is a sentimental one that portrays five border collies, Sparky, Sam, Woofer, Sassy and Rambler, which he raised and spent several years travelling around the Pacific Northwest, showing and competing in cow-dog trials.
One piece he is most proud of is a life-size bust of a Rocky Mountain big horn sheep, where the backside is chiseled into a mountain scene.
Several of his sculptures along with many drawings and paintings are on display at Parkside Art Gallery until March 17 in a solo show he is calling "Evolution of Art by Len Monical."
It's a timeline of his artistic endeavors, which begins at the gallery entrance with some of his earliest sketches and paintings from the 1950s.
In the main gallery, do a circle tour of the room to follow in sequence the refinement of his technique and change of interests. Also on display is the step-by-step process used in making a bronze sculpture.
The show includes more than 50 pieces and gallery director Barb Brown says she's enjoying having a large body of work by one artist on display.
"The show is a diary and evolution of Len's work and it's so wonderful to celebrate a local artist. We jumped at the chance to have him show."
"Evolution" is the first show Monical has had at Parkside. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, noon-4 p.m.
