Profile of J.R. Pyne

J.R.Pyne

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Dodo
12" tall

Small Whimbrel
5-1/4" tall

Toucan
21" Tall

Penguin Comtemplating
4" Tall

Bittern with Yellow Beak
19" tall

Toucanet
18" long

Seated Green Thrush
2" tall

Stork
24" tall

Night Heron
cast in Bronze
9 3/4" tall

Bee Eater
6" tall

Pair of Bee Eaters
5-1/2" tall

Camel
10-1/4" tall

Yellow Shore Bird
7-1/2" tall

Small Pig
3-3/4" tall

2 Penguins
3-1/2" tall

Heron
12" tall

Whimbrels
9-1/2" tall

Stalking Heron
6-1/4" tall

Bee Eaters
6" tall

James Rivington (Riv) Pyne was born in New Jersey and grew up in Maine. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Riv spent his time writing novels. He moved north and in the mid 1980’s, and taught himself to sculpt birds with the woods of Maine serving as inspiration. He found great expression in their forms, and, to him, the birds are always in motion even when at rest.

When Riv sees his next subject to sculpt, he takes photographs of it and works from the photos for his execution of the piece. Subject matter is primarily, though not exclusively, animals both common and exotic. Riv strives to portray a creature’s individual strength, grace, beauty and, at times, its absurdity.

Riv's mixed media sculptures begin with wood and/or steel armatures. Found wood pieces are used for the detail and filled in with plaster and epoxy and finished with acrylic paints. Largely representational, though stylized, J.R's work shows not how the animal looks in the literal way, but perhaps how it should look. Using his trademark monochromatic coloring, Riv portrays his passion for his subject matter with emotionally charged mystery and magic.