Artist L'Deane Trueblood

Today I had the opportunity to visit the studio of my neighbor and artist L'Deane Trueblood.
L'Deane is known for her life -size bronzes of children.


L'Deane has been commissioned to do a sculpture of Vicki Van Meter, who at age 11 was the youngest female pilot to fly across the United States. In 1994, when Vicki was 12, she flew across the Atlantic Ocean in a single engine plane.

Vicki tragically passed away last year at the age of 26. Her parents have a part time home here in St. George, and commissioned L'Deane to make the bronze in remembrance of their daughter.
The statue will be displayed upon completion of the new St. George airport that is currently under construction.

L'Deane is in the process of "claying up" the statue enlargement. She explained that the creation of a bronze has many steps, and is very labor intensive.

The claying up process can take 7-8 full days of labor.

First L'Deane created this smaller statue as a model to show the family. This was sent out to be digitally enlarged and then carved in Styrofoam.

From start to finish, this piece will go through 10 different steps, and travel through several artists hands.

One of the last steps will be when L'Deane sends the piece for bronzing to a foundry in Lehi, Utah.

This piece is priced at $80,000, which will be divided between all the artists who contributed.
Two statues will be made. One for our airport, and another to be sent to Maine, where Vicki was raised.

Vicki's clay head.

L'Deane had Vicki's actual flight suit to use for proportions when working on the model.

This statue was the first model done. L'Deane was not satisfied with how it turned out. She felt the figure did not represent a girlish figure, and the feet seemed too large. This original one will be scrapped. L'Deane is much more pleased with the 2nd model she is currently working on.

I kept thinking of how much work had gone into the first one, and wondered how she could start completely over. But, she is a true artist, and accepts only the highest of standards.

My friend Nicole lives next door to L'Deane, and their families have become very close.

In fact, so close that L'Deane just did a bust of Nicole and Jeremy's son Truman. Truman just got his summer haircut right after his head was sculpted.

Truman loves to come visit L'Deane. Today he brought her pictures he had painted and some banana bread.

L'Deane is responsible for starting "Art Around the Corner" here in St. George. If you ever have a chance to visit, notice the open air sculpture exhibits around our beautiful city, especially in the downtown area. L'Deane is very respected, and the motivation behind gathering artists to display their work for the public enjoyment.

This sign is in her studio. I love it.

I asked L'Deane how many statues she has carved and she guessed at least 200 or more.

She also is a water color artist.

I thought I'd show you some of L'Deane's work around her yard. This one is in her backyard by a pond.

Also by the pond.

In the front yard.

By her front door.

L'Deane's work is in gallery's all over the United States.

You can visit her web site HERE if you would like to see more samples of her work.

I am looking forward to the future when I can go to our airport. Years from now when I walk in and see the statue of Vicki Van Meter right by the front entrance, I will remember that I was privledged to watch history being made.