Rabon, Alan W.

Alan W. Rabon 2001 Alan At Public Demonstration 2007

When He Began Carving

Artist Biography

Eggshell Sculptor/Carver

Alan W. Rabon

707 Riverbend Road S.W.

Plainville, Georgia 30733

Home/Studio: 706-232-1208

www.greateggspectations.net

alanrabon@greateggspectations.net

Egg Art Biography

In 2002 Alan began carving eggs while working as a cutom jeweler in Charleston, S.C.

Alan was working at the bench one day when he was asked by his mother to carve something into some scalloped seashells she had found. He tried and tried to carve the eggshells but kept either breaking his drills or the seashells from the vibrations of the tools he was using. After extensive research on the internet he discovered a tool that could carve in wood, glass, stone and metal. He purchased the new drill and it came with a video that showed how to carve eggshells. "Eggshells?" Alan thought. "I have got to see this!"

After reviewing the video he decided he had to try to carve and eggshell so he ordered an ostrich egg from an online store. When he received his ostrich egg he eagerly began carving with his new drill. He was amazed at how easily the eggshell was carved by this amazing drill using dental drill bits. His first eggshell carving was a relief carved snowy white egret in a marsh with complete with seagrass and spanish moss hanging from an oak tree. Amazed at how his work turned out he searched for other eggs to carve and discovered goose eggs. The thicker eggshells where perfect for carving in relief or completely through the shell. Alan was officially "hooked" on egg carving and continues to carve in his home/studio located in the NW Georgia mountains.

Alan's eggshell artwork was first seen by the general public in his working art studio in the Tannery Row Artists Colony in Buford, Georgia in 2004. In 2004 he was chosen as the Artist In Residence at the 2004 Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia. That same year Alan was chosen by the Georgia Egg Commission to carve a chicken egg to represent the state of Georgia in the White House Permanent Easter Egg Collection. He would asked again in 2007 to create another chicken eggshell for the White House to represent the state of Georgia which is part of their permanent collection. While living in Champaign, Illinoise for a short period of time in 2006. Alan was asked to carve an egg to represent the state of Illinois in the permanent collection of the White House. In 2006 Alan was commissioned by the American Egg Board to carve the official 2007 Commemorative Presidential Easter Egg for First Lady Laura Bush.

Below are samples of Alan's eggshell sculptures and carvings.

His work can be identified in two ways. One is by his signiature or his A inside an R initials at the base of the eggshell. Alan also maintains a website where he displays the various eggshells he has created often with the year of their original creation. He does make copies of his orginal eggshell carvings and sculptures but no two are ever exactly alike. Only the orginal eggart design appears on his website.

"Carousel" Goose Egg Created in 2006

"Pinwheels" Goose Egg Created In 2007

"Puzzle Pieces" Goose Egg

Created In 2005

"Ivy" Brown Chicken Egg

Created In 2004

Alan's History of Artwork

Alan W. Rabon has had a varied career in the arts. He began his art career at the ripe old age of 13 when he sold his very first watercolor painting. Over the years Alan has expressed his artistic talents in many ways. He has been a sign painter, painted on canvas, a soft sculpture artist, a faux finishing artist, a professional cake decorator, a custom jeweler and an eggshell sculptor/carver.

Alan worked as a Master Decorative Artist for 20 years in Charleston and the Southeast. Alan was also the founder and Executive Director of the South Carolina Decorative Artists Guild in 1996. The SCDAG was the first of its kind in the U.S. He served in that capacity until 1998.

After a car accident that left Alan partially disabled he could no longer work as a Master Decorative Artist. In 1998 Alan began his career as a professional jeweler. He worked as a custom jeweler for Jared’s Galleria of Jewelry until 2007.

Alan has been carving and sculpting eggshells for 7 years. Currently, he still teaches faux finishing seminars on occasion and still works as a Master Eggshell Sculptor/Carver.

Alan has two of his eggshell sculptures in the White House permanent Easter Egg Collection. He was the official Easter Egg Artist for the state of Georgia in 2005 and 2007. He was also commissioned to create the Official Presidential Commemorative Easter Egg in 2007 for First Lady Laura Bush, which is now in their Bush’s private art collection.