Frank Ensminger, Alaskan Bronze Artist

Frank Entsminger, man of the outdoors, started his career as a taxidermist in high school. As a photographer, naturalist and hunting guide, his career has led him to become one of Alaska’s renowned wildlife bronze artists.

Born and raised in Montana, Frank’s keen interest in the out-of-doors drew him to Alaska fresh out of high school. This June will mark the 50th year he has lived in this vast state. For Frank, no other experience can replace those early years in Alaska when so much of her wilderness and wildlife were brand-new images etched forever in his mind. Even to this day, because Alaska is so vast and diversified, new images and subject matter continue to surface in his artistic mind.

Another turning point in his life occurred in 1988 with an opportunity to travel to Mongolia via China as a nonhunting companion accompanying a friend in pursuit of antelope, ibex and argali sheep. After returning to the United States, he could not get the trip out of his mind. Some years later, he returned to Mongolia and then went on to Russian and Tajikistan. It led him to incorporate Asian wildlife in his portfolio. Frank believes, “Seeing wildlife first hand in its natural environment is a must to accurately depicting it. Reality trumps fantasy every time.”

bronzeart@aptalaska.net  |  frankentsminger.com