Too Big for Her Britches radiates with charm and was only the third sculpture Dawn Weimer had ever created.

Dawn Weimer began as an artist painting in two dimensions in 1980 and began sculpting horses, figures and wildlife as recently as 1991. Too Big for Her Britches radiates with charm and was only the third sculpture Weimer had ever created. The sculpture successfully communicates the unsurpressable spirit of the little girl determined to ride the patient Quarter Horse.

The table top size of Too Big For Her Britches sold out by 1997 and is now available only on the secondary market. She has created Britches in monumental size, along with several other monumental sculptures, which puts her among a handful of women who have become known for their talents to create the larger than life-size works.

Dawn Weimer taught riding lessons for several years, and many children inspired Too Big For Her Britches. But one particular little girl, Lisa, who adored horses inspired the title of the piece. Dawn comments, "Lisa found innumerable ways to get into the saddle on a full-sized horse. Kids that want to ride will find a way. Using a bucket, a bale of hay, putting the horse into a low spot so they can get on, you name it, they will think of it and get on the horse. I had the title in mind before I sculpted it. Many times the title will come to me first."

People often will connect to artwork by relating directly to the subject matter. When viewing Too Big For Her Britches, Dawn has had many folks tell her that is just what they did as a little girl or boy. They would use a bucket. They have told her stories about riding their horse to the one-room rural school and parking their horses while in class.

The sculpture of Dawn Weimer strives to reveal a glimpse of the true essence of an animal, and being a sculptor has resulted in some cherished experiences. She had a special encounter with a blind person who was examining her sculpture. Seeing by touch, Dawn watched as tears of joy flowed down the blind person's cheeks. Dawn remarks, "At that point I was in tears as well. How privileged sculptors are to bring that kind of joy to someone else."

Dawn's work as a sculptor is passionate and heartfelt. Her choice to create a permanent, finished bronze has been taken with careful responsibility. The durability and the life of a bronze is part of the reason she takes pride in creating it. Dawn comments, "Quality will always shine through authentic lost wax bronze sculpture. It will be heavy, usually hollow, and almost virtually indestructible. Raw bronze is in the form of ingots, like gold. It is extremely hard and must be melted to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit to be poured for a sculpture. It cannot be ground up or pulverized."

Dawn Weimer has completed a couple of twelve-foot sculptures and several over life-size works that require a no-nonsense approach to the creative process. She comments, "Perhaps you have seen the bumper sticker ­ 'Art ain't for sissies.' The monuments can get grueling and there is some burn out after taking months to get a piece finished. Doing the large pieces requires focus, stamina and strength."

Dawn adds, "Creativity is virtually in everything and everywhere. As artists, try as we may, we only recreate the wonders God has already created, whether it is His abstract shapes of rock, waves, clouds or representational figures and animals.

"My greatest desire is to produce work so riveting it causes one to pause, to touch, to reflect upon the glorious creation with which we are privileged to live, and to likewise embrace the love of our Creator."

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