"My approach to sculpture is not to duplicate nature, but rather interpret and convey it through various artistic components. The first component is inspiration. I need to have a connection with my subject and be inspired before making a commitment to sculpting it. Inspiration is a direct result of my interaction with wildlife and time spent in the outdoors.

The second component is research which includes observing my subjects afield and gathering reference material - I need to know my subject’s personality to accurately and honestly capture it in sculpture. Knowledge of subtle gestures known to every living species can only be obtained through observation. I use a live model whenever possible. Photography and using subjects I keep in my “road kill freezer” also provide valuable research material. Plain and simple - I must understand anatomy and how it works.

The third component is designing a piece of sculpture. I believe that the essence of a fine piece of work starts with a strong composition and design. To settle on this, I sculpt a loose miniature clay study and only once I am satisfied with this study, do I start my final clay model. A sculpture must have rhythm and have a strong correlation to other key elements including mass, shape, form, line and negative space. How these elements interact with one another determines the strenght of the composition and design.

The fourth component of interpreting nature is how and why I texture a sculpture. For example, while texturing a bird sculpture, I am not concerned with sculpting every last feather but rather sculpting tracts of feathers. I want the viewer to see the simple beauty of the bird’s body - I want the viewer to see and appreciate its form and structure. When texturing a piece, I may use a couple tools but my most often used tool is my hands - I want you to see my fingerprints in the finished bronze - this is the ultimate signature of my artistic expression."

A three day workshop is available in late June at Ott's studio for sculptors of any skill level. This comprehensive workshop will explore animal sculpture in depth with the aid of live models. Topics including inspiration, idea development, research, armature, anatomy, composition and design will be throughly covered.

Workshops are offered to students from kindergarten through high school. Ott has taught at nine different schools and has offered over 20 of his popular workshops. The fundementals of sculpture as well as the history and life style of Montana's Native Americans is covered. Interesting artifacts, skulls, horns, feathers, etc. are used in class. Students are provided clay to create a sculpture of thier own.

Lectures and Seminars are available to to organizations and communities. A wide range of topics are covered from concept, to creating a piece of sculpture, to production and the casting process. Powerpoint presentations are offered as well.