"Leave It" by Esther Shimazu

Esther Shimazu’s unique combination of carefree subject and careful process has made her one of Hawaii’s best-known artists. Sculpted with a wicked eye for detail, “Leave It” depicts a rapt dog gazing expectantly at his master. The artist lays bare the good and the ugly, capturing not only the pup’s humorous yet endearing expression but also his lolling tongue, sloppy sit and glossy, distended underbelly. The sculpture’s playful exuberance belies the artist’s methodical approach to craft. Sculpted by hand, the clay figure is covered with underglaze, slip, and oxides. Once fired, the sculpture is sanded and painted or airbrushed to give it a sense of volume and lifelike color.