2025-04-19
An Arabian Spirit, Cast in Bronze

Spirit was born from champion bloodlines, a foal whose first steps carried a rare confidence.

An Arabian Spirit, Cast in Bronze

The Story Behind Spirit

Spirit was born to my friend’s Canadian Champion breed Arabian mare, and the moment she pranced around the paddock, I knew she had to be cast in bronze. She moved with surprising confidence for a newborn — every step carried promise and energy.

To capture her proportions accurately, I spent hours photographing and sketching her poses before ever touching a lump of clay. Bringing that balance of strength and motion into bronze proved challenging. I visited the stables each week to document how Spirit’s form shifted as she grew, then translated those strong structural lines into clay — firm enough to honor her anatomy, yet loose enough to keep the sense of movement.

Once the bronze was poured and cooled, I refined the surface until the sculpture felt both solid and alive. But the detail I return to most is that foal’s forehead — the gentle curve framing her bright, curious eyes — and the rich, translucent depth of the patina layered over her coat. It’s that subtle iridescence, shifting from warm amber to deep chestnut in different lights, that I hope viewers will notice first.

To me, Spirit isn’t just a sculpture; she’s a reminder that every great adventure starts with one bold step, now immortalized in bronze as a testament to potential waiting to be discovered.

An Arabian Spirit, Cast in Bronze

Close-up of Spirit

An Arabian Spirit, Cast in Bronze

Arabian Foal Bronze Sculpture

Today, Spirit lives on in bronze: a life-size tribute to motion, youth, and quiet strength.

If Spirit’s story speaks to you, we would be honored to share more.

Private viewings are available upon request.

Paul Harder Bronze Works
(250)-216-6856 • paharder@shaw.ca
612 Downey Road, North Saanich BC, V8L 5M6
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