Great topic, Tim.
Today I was lucky enough to visit both Paul de Lorenzo's and
Jason Arkles' studios here in Southern Pines--chaperoned by my studio buddy,
David Hewson. While many on this forum are probably familiar with de Lorenzo's work, Arkles is a sculptor who works sight-size. I'm going to hit him up for a weekly or bi-weekly morning session, out of his studio. You would drool over the chunk of marble laying in his back yard, ripe with potential.
The artists I've met here are fascinating, great humanists. I can't believe the pocket of artistic passion I've tapped into here in this remote piece of North Carolina. It's an inspiration.