A triumph for a novice who up until this creation had never even woodled a piece of wood much less tackle a life sized stone to replicate what could not be done in Roberta's Salon in 2008. If it were not for the vision and kindness of a talented sculptor that became a true friend Larry Oien this would have not been realized. This rare individual saw a fire within me and laid out methodically for me the basics of lines and midlines, how to level a stone and approach it with powerful chisels and safeguard the figure to emerge still. Although we were not building a piano as he would often say, month after month our lady came to life when many Silverbacks at Saddleback dismissed us and the stone at the outset. Elle was our model and Davida would become her middle name as the pose leans like the David in Florence Italy. The stone amazed us all as its veins and marbling and colors surprised everyone in its layout, not bad for the first carving. Big thank you to my mentor and friend Larry Oien, a fine gentleman like no other.