About the Artist
| Claudio Derungs always dreamed of adventures and travels and he manages to fulfill his visions and lives a life he loves. As a teenager in his homeland of Switzerland, he started to travel on his own and made trips through Europe . He drew and painted; although, art school was never discussed. At sixteen, when he had to make a career choice, the closest he could get to drawing was to become a Drafter in Mechanical Engineering. In many ways it turned out to be a very good choice for him. He developed a keen sense for detail and a great understanding of form and function. During his education he and a friend rented an art studio and began experimenting with oil and water painting, pastels, ceramics, sculpting, music and even storytelling. This creative balance was much needed during the technical education. | ||
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As soon as Claudio earned his degree and completed his studies, he was off to travel for six months across America. His creativity did not rest and he started to create small wood projects equipped only with his Swiss Army knife, sand paper and wood glue. He learned from a blind carpenter that touching, feeling and visualizing your project could be as powerful as actual vision. | |
He also explored Europe America and Africa , and if you encourage him, he has many great stories to share. The desire to see more of the world brought him back to the Americas . He was planning to travel from Alaska to the tip of South America. However It took Claudio about 16 years before he acctually arived in Alaska. |
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Beginning a new life and career in California brought him to Palomar College , where he earned a degree in Graphic Design and Multimedia. After working for some time as a freelance designer he returned to Palomar where his talent and ability to share his knowledge earned him a teaching position in the Graphics Department. About the same time, he started taking classes for drawing, design and ceramics. | |
| Sculpting was always a passion and soon he found himself in a bronze foundry class that provided the perfect outlet for his artistic expression. Claudio has been involved in all aspects of the bronze process from sculpting, creating the ceramic shell to the actual handling of the molten metal. He had the honor of studying with Ron Young, who is widely renowned for developing the patinas used to colorize bronze. |  |
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Claudio has shown much of his art in the Boehm Gallery, at the Art and Cultural Center in Fallbrook and showings in North San Diego County. One of his sculptures is displayed at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. On October first till January first he also will be showing his art at the Natural History Museum's first Annual Wildlife Exhibition. Claudio’s love for nature and animals is clearly communicated in his art. With his attention to detail and imagination, he creates sculptures with their own personality. Curently he resides in Alaska and is besides sculpting also focusing again on fotography.
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If you are willing to do what it takes to fulfill a dream and don't give up, regardless of any obstacles, you found your passion.
Claudio Derungs
Click to watch a little movie about Claudio Derungs
Video by: Charles
Mazarakes
