JASON NAPIER

Whimsical Wildlife Sculpture in Bronze

“Teamwork makes the Dreamwork” is a phrase that couldn’t describe the aspiring couple of Jason and Danielle Napier any better. The pair immediately clicked the moment they met in high school. Thy shared much in common, both coming from working-class families. Thy became inseparable and as their love grew, so did their ambition. While attending college, they found neighboring jobs just to be close to each another. Danielle managed an art gallery and Jason worked tooling in a bronze casting foundry. How fortuitous that this experience led Jason to discover his sculpting talents! This piotal realization directed them to follow a pathway into the arts.

Jason became fascinated with the age old lost wax process and worked every job he could in the foundry. The n-the-job training provided Jason with experience working on various commissions and exposed him to materials and techniques that only the masters of their craft knew. This colection of skills built the foundation for Jason’s work and with so much inspiration surrounding him he soon began sculpting wildlife, a subject he loved since he was a child. Developing his unique style as a canvas for his trademark patinas was the “Aha!” moment.

Side by side, the couple embarked on creating a highly distinguishable sculpture collection and in 1996 established and operated a successful fin art gallery for nearly 10 years in Friday Harbor, Washington. Thy quickly learned how seasonal the art market was on San Juan Island. Thi prompted them to search for larger cities where the art market was thriving. A seminal moment in their career happened about this time, when they received an invitation to a juried art show in Scottsdale, Arizona. Th couple packed up their sculptures and headed to the Southwest in hopes of success. What a wise decision this was. In 2020 the Napiers became full-time residents of Scottsdale’s thriving arts community.

Today Jason’s expressive wildlife sculptures can be found in a handful of fin art galleries and at some of the nation’s top-ranking fin art festivals in Carefree, Arizona, La Quinta, California, and Anacortes, Washington. Th couple truly enjoys the personal aspect of these events and building relationships with their patrons.

A well-established November event is the acclaimed “Hidden in the Hills” studio tour. Napier’s whimsical jackrabbit sculpture “Weedeater” was selected as the cover art for the directory in 2020. Tha exposure and experience has been very fulfiling to Jason and Danielle because of the variety of artists and appreciators they have gotten to know.

Jason’s whimsical wildlife sculptures have captured the hearts of many. Th animals he brings to life exude personality and always harness a colorfully rich patina. But underneath the surface of Napier’s modest, easy-going demeanor is a skilled sculptor and brilliant alchemist whose ability to create beautiful bronzes continues to capture the attention of collectors worldwide. With Jason always inspired to push the envelope with each new piece, there is always an amazing new collection of Napier wildlife to see at Napier Bronze!

Visit napierbronze.com to see more of Jason’s whimsical creations and for more information.