A few of Eli's accomplishments and his story...
Some recognition, awards, and commissions:
- Animals In Art show benefiting Animal Rescue of the Rockies June - July 2013, Loveland Colorado
- "Bugling Elk" private commission - May, 2013
- (Although not sculpture related - Eli's a writter too!), winner of 2013 Colorado Press Assoc. Award
- "Grace's hands" - private commission, 2012
- Transamerica "Grizzly" bear bust award commission, 2012
- "Above the Clouds" eagle sculpture, Navy SEAL Foundation fundraiser live auction item, 2012
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife "Fallen Comrades Memorial" commission 2012
- Children's Clinic private commission, 2010
- Sculpture of the Rockies gallery exhibit and show, Denver CO, 2010
- Selected artist for Sculpture of the Rockies: 97 Contemporary & Traditional Artists book 2010
- Denver Museum of Art, sculpting demonstration and display, 2008-2009
- Xerox "Above the Clouds - small" commission, 2008
- Art Business News June 2007, sculpture article featuring an interview with Eli and images of his work.
- Art World News, May 2007 Published article written by Eli Hopkins
- Art World News "Artist Vitae" January 2007
- Décor Magazine feature article November 2006.
- Destin Florida Magazine feature article 2006
- State of Wyoming, pronghorn commission, 2006
- Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, Western Spirit Art Show featured artist, 2006
- Reporter-Herald, Loveland CO, March 12, 2006 Feature Article
- Spirit Catchers: Expressions in Bronze by Mark and Eli Hopkins Booth Museum show, Cartersville, Georgia March 2, 2006
- Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, Western Spirit Art Show featured artist, 2005
- May River Golf Club commission, Bluffton South Carolina 2005
- Heart of the Community award commission, Redmond Regional Medical Center Rome Georgia 2005
- InformArt magazine front cover and featured artist, Summer 2005
- Artists of Note - featured artist, Wildlife Art Magazine Nov-Dec 2004
- 21 Rising Stars: Art show, Steamboat Colorado, April 2004
- Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, Western Spirit Art Show featured artist, 2004
- City of Avondale, AZ - Southwest Images Art Show February 21, 2004
- Featured in Southwest Art Magazines, 21 artists under 31 article, September 2003
Private and Corporate collectors of Eli's work:
- Matt Prater, NFL Kicker
- Mike Huckabee, Former Governor of Arkansas, T.V. personality
- TransAmerica Insurance Company
- Redmond Regional Medical Center, Rome, Georgia
- State of Wyoming
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Xerox Corporation
Biography of Eli Hopkins -
The childhood of Eli Hopkins was one of adventure, imagination and struggle. While young, his creativity developed and his art career really began. Growing up throughout the southeastern United States, Eli had the chance to experience art first hand by watching and learning from his father, artist Mark Hopkins.
As a child, Eli loved to draw and from time to time tried his hand at sculpting. One of his first sculptures, still a prized possession, is the profile of an African elephant, which his father cast into resin material. The satisfaction of designing, creating and producing this piece was a blossom of Eli's sculpting career.
After being home-schooled for most of his childhood, Eli started high school entering 9th grade. While there, he further developed his artistic skills and creativity by cartooning for the high school newspaper and other local publications, as well as taking classes in architectural and mechanical drafting. He received national awards and much recognition during this time for his artistic abilities.
Throughout his youth and into adulthood, Eli, was surrounded by the creative process of sculpting and foundry casting. He worked long humid summer days at his father’s foundry and became familiar with the many facets of the world of bronze sculpture. As a young adult, he felt the desire to serve as a missionary for his church. While away for two years, his family relocated to Colorado where Eli eventually moved. It was in Colorado that he met his beautiful wife and started a family.
Eli never intended or desired to continue in the sculpture or foundry business. His attention had been directed elsewhere however, when his father needed a reliable assistance within his established art business, Eli accepted the opportunity. Ultimately, Eli’s position within the business quickly morphed as he took on the duties of marketing and business manager for Mark Hopkins Sculpture, Inc. It wasn't long however before the creativity of his youth and the art in his blood began to reveal itself. Eli grew more and more eager to create his own sculpture.
While attending an art show in 2001 Eli viewed the works of many other artists and realized this was where his heart was. And thus it began - in 2002 Eli released his first bronze sculptures, a set of stylized horses which were well received and gave Eli much attention from collectors and galleries, as well as many art publications. Since that time, with his hard-earned knowledge and his father’s guidance, Eli has been able to move forward at a phenomenal rate in his sculpting and art career. His work is selling very successfully, and he has been rewarded with several corporate commissions, along with many articles and recognition in prominent art publications and museums. Although he has concentrated mainly on wildlife themes thus far, Eli has a wide range of interests, which are reflected in an expanding line of varied and unique art works.