1996, carved and painted wood, with carved signature and dated at base edge.

HOA 70 in.

"I am a hand-carver, I love the texture you can only get by hand," said Stephen. He had a collection of tools consisting of over 150 chisels, 30 hand planes, and axes. As a hand-carver, Stephen carved almost everyday of the year, taking time out to walk with his dogs.
A self-taught sculptor, Stephen started out as an antique furniture picker. In 1994, Stephen suffered from Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome after falling down a flight of stairs, and it left him in a coma for two months. With the help of his wife, Gwen, Stephen made a full recovery. He had to relearn everything, from how to walk to how to sign his own name. Just before the accident, Stephen had been inspired to do a series of woodcut prints based on his dog Sally. After waking up from the coma, Stephen immediately began work on those woodcuts. The first woodcut he carved was "Life Is A Ball," celebrating his new-found life. It remains one of the most cherished and iconic of Stephen's works. Friends of Dog Mountain, the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2015 by family and friends of Stephen and Gwen.

The shade with some minor paint loss; the base with some finish loss to the edge; crack to lowest figures neck; otherwise good condition.