Randall
Zadar is the artist and sculptor creating and producing the wonderful miniature
figurines of Zadar Studios. Randall was born in Parma, OH. He currently lives
in Strongsville, OH with his wife, Stacy, and two children.
Randall has always been interested in art and creating since he was a boy.
He would spend hours drawing and inventing making things such as a bionic arm.
With no formal art training, the artist’s talent comes from his natural
abilities and self training.
The road to Zadar Studios began in 1990 when Randall became restless with
his career at that time, selling and repairing typewriters and computers.
He began to think about things he could make and invented a mechanical wave
motion sign. This led to making clocks with similar motion. Later
he started making wood burned plaques featuring cars. One of the cars
he made was a 1948 Tucker. Randall showed this plaque to his Uncle Jermone,
who had been making jewelry as a hobby for twenty years. Uncle Jerome
immediately suggested Randall try sculpting and casting the Tucker in silver
using lost wax casting. And as they say “the rest is history”.
Randall began his first sculpting on the Tucker in December of 1992.
Little did he know at that time that this was the beginning of a new career.
Randall struggled with this piece but through all the trials and errors of this
piece as well as his first figurines the learning process, knowledge and skills
gained would prove to be very valuable when he started Zadar Studios and began
producing miniature figurines.
One day while at a local library he found the book Goebel Miniatures of Robert
Olszewski by Dick Hunt. This inspired him to sculpt miniature figurines.
He took some of his early carvings to a local Cleveland Miniature Show.
He came home from this show very enthused and in earnest began sculpting and
casting bronze minature figurines. The first six figurines he produced
were Sunday Drive, King of the Road, Spanish Dancer, On the River, High Society
I and Toucan I. These first six figurines were released in 1994.
Their edition sizes are very low and would be considered extremely rare today.
Zadar Studios celebrated its ten year anniversary in 2004, a significant milestone
for Randall to have accomplished. The studio has undergone many changes
over these ten years as the evolution of this artist and his work has grown.
Over 100 sculptures have been carved and produced in hand cast, hand painted
miniature figurines.
Randall continues to grow as an artist and is constantly challenging himself
to do more intricate and detailed figurines. Many obstacles have to be
overcome both in casting and painting but he never gives up and ultimately he
will find a way to produce what he has created
The work of this artist is nothing short of phenomenal! He may be the
only artist in the world today creating and producing miniature figurines in
this size with this detail and quality painting. Just when his collectors
think he can’t possibly do anything better a new figurine will be released
that is indeed unbelievable! So what will the next ten years bring
to collectors? As wonderful as our collections are now perhaps, the best
is yet to come!!
Randall was awarded Fellow status by the International Guild of Miniature Artisans
in 1999.
