“A Day in the Life” with Calgary Bronze Artist William Miles

William Miles is a retired computer scientist who casts bronze sculptures for fun.

He melts bronze and creates unique fantasy sculptures in his workshop; fairies, daemons, and even some western work. Sadly, he has not yet figured out how to make his creations come alive. That’s because he is not yet a certified mad scientist. Except on rainy days.

It’s hard to know from where his creative skills came. He studied the violin as a child and discovered his adult passion in mathematics and computer science. Now retired, he plays chamber music composed by his great uncle on his great-grandfather’s cello made in 1909.

A typical day would often find him walking his dogs with his wife, spending time in his workshop, and practising the cello.

William casts bronze objects to provoke and stimulate thought. His goal is to produce about 100 pieces of art as a legacy for others to experience and enjoy.

His sculptures include natural forms that have geometric structures, history, reflection, and mathematical similarities. He is a computational scientist and an emerging artist and is generally conflicted.

William’s work has been acquired by collectors in Canada, Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Scandinavia, and the United States.

William Miles
Pouring bronze
“McBride’s Mountain”, created in 2020. This is another of my amethyst series of sculptures. It is shown in my workshop being staged before final patina and finishing of the walnut base.
“Faerie on Twig”, created in 2018. This was the first in my amethyst series of sculptures. The work is mounted on honey onyx.
Assembling Baphomet’s wing. I use jewellery casting equipment which limits the size of the pieces I can cast. My sculpture is assembled from parts that are brazed together with high-temperature bronze solder.
This is “China”, a mixed breed currently about 14 years old that’s still with us today for our daily dog walks. She is accompanied by her younger companion “Mack”, a Sheltie (not shown).
William Miles
William Miles (cello) and Chantal Lemire (violin), playing the Duet in D for Violin and Cello (1903) composed by William’s great uncle Percy Hilder Miles. Chantal is William’s niece.
William Miles
“Sonata in C” for Pianoforte and Cello (1916) by Percy Hilder Miles. Played by William Miles. Recorded by Alice Purton (cello) and Ian Tindale (piano). Available at MPR Recording MPR111.
“Minuet in G”, created in 2016. Shown in my workshop before final assembly and finishing.
William Miles
William Miles in his workshop with his bronze sculpture “Baphomet”. This sculpture contains over 9 kg of bronze. The sculpture base is in wax before casting.

***

Which ’hood are you in?

I live in Oakridge Estates in southwest Calgary. I have lived here for about 25 years. I grew up in Vancouver and my computing job took my family to Minneapolis, Winnipeg, Toronto, Fredericton, and finally back west to Calgary.

What do you do?

I used to work with large information systems in government and industry. Now, I enjoy life. Retirement is wonderful. I make what I want, when I want, and show my work in art shows only when I feel like it.

What are you currently working on?

I have been creating a series of sculptures that combine my bronze figures with amethyst geodes from Sidi Rahal, Morocco. My current work is “Celestial Bodies”. Two female figures hold stone balls, similar to Atlas supporting the globe.

Where can we find your work?

See my website. Although I have social media accounts (Facebook, Youtube) I am not very social. My website is where my work is shown and sold. You can subscribe to my website to receive email notifications of my work in progress.

 

 

About Demian Vernieri 639 Articles
Demian is an Argentinian retired musician, avid gamer and editor for the Montréal Guardian, Toronto Guardian, Calgary Guardian and Vancouver Guardian websites.