This is a photo story of Abigail Tulis, who lived and worked from June to August 2015 as ‘artist in resident’, used the facility of the fort ‘Werk aan het Spoel’ in Culemborg / Netherlands.

A sculptor academically trained in New York, Tulis found it easy to leave the hectic city for her Dutch roots and settle for the calm peace of the "river-land area" of the Netherlands. Documented here are the works that emerged as a result of inspiration from the rich cultural heritage and beauty of the region, culminating in the sculpture of the soldier. The project spanned her three months at ‘Werk aan het Spoel’; she completed it after a move to an atelier in Hagestein in October.

Besides executing the drawing commission "Christian Soldier" and "The Three Maries" for patrons in the states, Tulis hosted workshops in drawing and sculpting and organized monthly selling exhibits. She also studied carving with neighbor sculptor Anneke Wessel, in whose company she worked on a marble piece for client Peter Pennoyer.

A bust runs like a thread through her stay over here.
‘The Dutch soldier’ was first conceived in small clay and ink studies. Wanting to take full advantage of the surrounding landscape and use formal solutions, Tulis designed each piece of armor on paper by plein-air studies done wandering by the “Lek", and worked with a youth from Hagestein for the portrait. She also drew inspiration in old town centers of Utrecht, Vianen and Culemborg and from pieces in the Rijksmuseum.

The final terra-cotta piece is a symbiosis between old and new, but for most a product of boundless work ethos, true craftsmanship and extraordinary talent.