Always an artist, Carlson has carved out quite an interesting life

George Carlson is easy to talk to - an ordinary guy who makes you feel at home in his domain.

But this nationally recognized artist and sculptor leads a rather extraordinary life.

Carlson creates his art from a studio here. It's housed in the old Masonic Temple, which he purchased and restored in 1986.

He and his wife, Pam, have lived full-time in their Swedish-style farmhouse at Black Lake since 1985. Their home is an expression of their Scandinavian heritage and has been featured in the book "American Design in the Northwest."

Carlson grew up in the Chicago area, displaying artistic talent as a child. Pam has drawings he did when he was 6 or 7 years old. Carlson said he looks at those drawings now and realizes they were done by somebody who had fairly developed powers of observation.

He was encouraged by his mother, whom he describes as ahead of her time in encouraging him to pursue his passion. She was a classical pianist and loved classical literature. She wasn't pushy, but recognized that her son had a gift.

"Artistic people recognize other artistic expressions," Carlson said, "so when she saw that I had more than a casual interest, she spent a lot of time taking me to the museums.

"So I think that's what fostered the whole thing. I had a very pleasant childhood."

After high school, he attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago to learn the fundamentals. At the Art Institute of Chicago he learned more about abstract concepts. Both schools contributed to his training, though he considers himself more of a realist.

He rounded out his education at the University of Arizona in Tucson, which boasts a good sculpting department and foundry. He developed an interest in the Native American cultures in Arizona and drew inspiration from the desert and its people.

The Carlsons first visited North Idaho, on the invitation of friends, in the late 1970s.

They bought 55 acres at Black Lake in 1979, then built the Swedish farmhouse in 1981. Originally built as a summer home, it became their permanent residence in 1985.

"Every place I've moved, the sprawl has caught up," Carlson said. "I was looking for someplace the sprawl wouldn't catch up."

In December 1999, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the University of Idaho for his contributions to the promotion of art in Idaho. He views this as a lifetime achievement award.

"I do seminars down there for the art and sculpting departments. We have a good relationship; they realize I'm a serious artist, so they had been talking about it. This all went on without me really knowing about it, so it was sort of a surprise."

Carlson has won many awards for his work, including the Idaho Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts, and five Gold Medals at the National Academy of Western Art.

He has been commissioned by the rich and famous. One of his private collectors is comedian Bill Cosby, who has commissioned him to do several portrait busts for him, including one of his late son, Ennis Cosby. Cosby has been collecting Carlson's work for 30 years. Arnold Schwarzenegger is also a collector, and astounded everyone in Harrison when he showed up at Carlson's studio five summers ago.

Carlson has always been intrigued by the human figure, which is his main interest. From 1991 to 1993, he spent a lot of time observing the American ballet, sculpting the dancers. He plans to spend time next winter observing modern dancers in Paris. He thinks they will be more asymmetrical than ballet dancers.

For the immediate future, Carlson is working on a show for the Art Spirit Gallery in Coeur d'Alene titled "The Goddess and the Horse." The show will feature figurative drawings, horse drawings, sculptures and figurative sculptures.

He is also working on a commission for Texas oil businessman Ed Bass.

Carlson loves what he does, and it shows.

"The main thing I like to do is work from life," he said. "I like the energy that comes off of life. I try to view that in a piece."

This sidebar appeared with the story:

CALENDAR

CdA show

Carlson is preparing for a show, "The Goddess and the Horse," at Coeur d'Alene's Art Spirit Gallery Aug. 7 through Sept. 8, with a reception Aug. 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. to meet the artist.

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