“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” as they say, and there’s no doubt that sculptor Eric Wilcox has inherited his acclaimed father’s artistic touch — even if it took some time.
 
The son of well known and successful landscape artist Jim Wilcox, sculptor Eric Wilcox has been no stranger to exquisite Western fine art since his birth in 1983. Since 1969, Jim and his wife, Narda, have owned and operated the Wilcox Gallery in Jackson, Wyoming — just one of the many world-class galleries in the area.
 
Being born into a successful art family doesn’t always spawn immediate love for the creative process, but “somewhere around the age of 7,” as Eric’s biography states, “he was with his parents at an art show where artist Joe Halko was demonstrating. Eric, not being the shy type, asked Joe if he would sculpt something for him. Joe was kind enough to take time out of his demonstration and sculpt a bunny out of clay that he let Eric take home. At this point, art started to make a home in his heart.”
 


Eric Wilcox working at the Wilcox Gallery II (c) Mark Wilcox 2015

 
Forging his own aesthetic path, years of dabbling in a variety of media led Wilcox to sculpting, where he discovered a natural skill. Through the generous help of sculptors Rip Caswell and Tim Whitworth, the rest is history. Today, Wilcox is quickly establishing his career as both the Wilcox Gallery manager and as a sculptor of miniatures. His biography states, “Eric is currently working on a series of small bronzes that showcase the variety of wildlife found in the Teton area. He is grateful to have had such formative influences and understands that he would not be doing what he loves without the help of many amazing people.”
 


Eric Wilcox, “Christmas Set,” (c) Eric Wilcox 2015

 
Eric writes, “The best thing about being an artist for me is the feeling I get knowing that something I created is something that others admire enough to have in their home. The first sale I ever had I was shaking and could hardly keep my emotions in check. I don’t think the shaking stopped until several hours later. When the clients left the gallery I was jumping up and down yelling out of excitement. Then I called everyone I could think of to share the great news. I still get that same feeling today with every sale but I spare most people the call. I am also excited to know that my children and eventual grandchildren and so on will have something that is long-lasting that they can remember me by.”
 
To learn more, visit Eric Wilcox.
 
This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.
 


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Andrew Webster is the former Editor of Fine Art Today and worked as an editorial and creative marketing assistant for Streamline Publishing. Andrew graduated from The University of North Carolina at Asheville with a B.A. in Art History and Ceramics. He then moved on to the University of Oregon, where he completed an M.A. in Art History. Studying under scholar Kathleen Nicholson, he completed a thesis project that investigated the peculiar practice of embedded self-portraiture within Christian imagery during the 15th and early 16th centuries in Italy.

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