The Prairie House Studio

Established, 2014

I've sculpted on beaches and in sandboxes. I've carved in a garage, a basement, the tailgate of a truck, on stumps and tables. Now I have a studio where weather does not stop me. The beauty and the elements are there to be experienced and chewed on. There is peaceful, sacred silence, surrounded by an abundance of nature's sound. The essence is so clear and fresh. My spirit just thrives here as I become filled, more and more, with that silence and peace, all while my creative being is screaming and jumping for joy. This is a very non-dualistic place; all the opposites abound. This very ground is the sacred home of the Winnebago Tribe — a peaceful and gentle people, farmers of sorts. We have found pottery, points, and half-axe artifacts here. We were privileged to have Laurie Houseman-Whitehawk, a Winnebago artist-painter, come and visit. One of her pieces hangs in the gallery and another in our home. The connections of art and sacredness run very deep here. I am honored and privileged to be given this time in this place to explore my art more deeply.

― WLN

Works-In-Progress

Sculpture-in-the-making by WL Nettelhorst

Lady on a Bluff

White alabaster (Colorado)
12" x 8" x 4"
Begun, 2006

This is the most intricate and difficult sculpture I have ever attempted. You can see, by the pencil marks on the top of the stone, that this is a broken sculpture piece. I figured it didn't matter very much what I did with the stone. So I went for it. Crossed legs, arms across the chest, and breasts all at the same time. Lots of movement lines and holes front to back. Oh, what a challenge!

― WLN