Tom Yssel's wildlife sculptures literally pulsate with vitality. The poses evoke a sense of actual movement portraying not only the bold characteristic expressions of the wild animals Tom Sculpts, but also the most delicate and subtle nuances of animal behaviour
Tom's intimate knowledge and vast experience with Africa's fauna and flora, as well as his commitment to conservation date back to his childhood years in the African bush. Retiring in 1995 as a senior game ranger with the famed Kruger National Park, Tom describes his 21 years with KNP as real-life workshop with abundant opportunities to observe and work with Africa's wild animals in all phases of their development in their natural surroundings.
According to John R. Botha, Curator of the Art Collection at Potchefstroom University in South Africa, "Tom knows his subject matter and interprets the many nuances of his chosen characters with a passion and insight that must be the envy of many other wildlife sculptors. It is not difficult to predict that Tom's works are going to become sought after collectors' items in a very short period of time...Where Tom is is uprooting himself from his beloved Africa, it is his new home in America that will be the richer. The Yssel family have chosen the beautiful San Bernardino mountains of Southern California as their new home".
Whether this self-taught artist is sculpting the African animals he knows so well or North American wildlife he is currently working with, the soul of the animal virtually wrestles along with the physical form to free itself from the clay. In the not too distant future Tom will begin producing limited edition bronzes of his work. For a limited time Tom's originals are available for purchase, an incredible opportunity for the serious long-time collector, as well as the new collector with a discerning eye.
