About The Artist

Robert Pace Kidd
Bas-Relief Portraits in Leather

Creating in a medium that combines not only two generations of knowledge in traditional saddlery, but the virtuosity of a fine artist; Robert Pace Kidd has captured the rugged individualism of the west and its people.

Using the traditional tools of saddlery and implements of his own creation, each square inch of bas-relief is sculpted under countless blows, indelibly recording detail. It is a precise art, for one slip of the hammer could ruin the entire piece. Once the sculpture is complete, fine art pigments suspended in a wax-based medium are then employed to add color, magnifying the mood and character of the sculpted subject. Because each piece takes several months to complete, there can never be an over-supply of his works.

These works require no special care beyond the normal precautions against excessive sunlight, heat, and moisture.

"I take great professional pride in knowing that this art form is uniquely my own and that collectors and their heirs will share in my artistic recollections and vision for many generations."    -- R.P. Kidd

How Does He Do It?

Preliminary Sketch Mr. Kidd begins with on site sketches and photographs to render a preliminary sketch, often refining it to an original pen & ink composition study.
Hand Colored Print From the original pen and ink composition, Mr. Kidd produces a very limited number of prints which he individually hand colors to serve as color studies for the original work in leather.
Sculpture Examples of exquisitely carved leather have been with us for more than 2000 years. Mr. Kidd selects from the finest steer hides available in search of a piece whose grain and character most suit the composition. Guided by his original ink, he'll begin to sculpt each square inch under dozens of forceful blows from a weighted mallet. Utilizing the mallet and traditional tools, several hours of hard physical labor may only produce 5 square inches of relief sculpture and one slip can ruin the entire piece.
Coloration Encaustic, or hot wax painting, is the most permanent form of easel painting known (American Artist Magazine 4/88). Employing this technique Mr. Kidd uses the finest Grumbacher oil pigments, suspended in his own wax media; to apply transparent glazes of color to the sculpture. Using his hand colored prints as a guide, he works each color glaze back against the angle and depth of the sculpture, effectively marrying the two art forms of sculpture and painting (Artists Magazine R.P. Kidd Pounding away at success 9/92).