Natural stories of life surround the artists in their remote Hill Country studio. Evocative black walnut burl shapes grow into sculptures over years of time alongside bronze and marble statues evolving into finished form.  Robert Gottschall has developed a myriad of styles to connect us through art to nature and its underlying mysteries.  Abstract, real and surreal dynamics merge with the organic roots to become art that is born from primal creative search.  It is difficult to define Gottschall’s style, for each sculpture has its own that tells its individual tale.  This artist connects modern myth to natural core images, projected through comtemporary sculpture.

Born August 16, 1947, Los Angeles, California.  Gottschall spent much of his childhood in Taiwan and Japan, living among the people watching their ways and studying their art.  He began carving at the age of 8 years old and has been a professional sculptor for the past 36 years.  He graduated from Hillcrest High School, Dallas, Texas in 1965 and attended Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas and the University of Texas, Austin.  Gottschall has studied and maintained studios in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Colorado Springs and Aspen, Colorado; Bellingham, Washington; Dripping Springs and Houston, Texas.  Wimberley, Texas is the place he calls home and maintains his studio with his partner Deborah Roberts.

Gottschall has been blessed with great teachers and mentors including:

Morey Alexander- totem sculptor and tool-maker of the Lummi Nation, Bellingham, Washington, 1970-72.

Robert Harvil- master western jade sculptor, tool-maker and gemologist, 1975-77.

Paul Prochnow- friend and master burl grubber.  Taught him the history of hardwoods and to recognize the different types of walnuts and hardwoods in the Texas hill country.

Jean Eymere- engraver and sculptor, Aspen, Colorado, 1978-1980.

Deborah Roberts began managing RBG Studios in 2000, she has studied with Gottschall since 1998.  She has been project manager for each of the major works of the studios since 2000.  Her expertise, as a sculptor, lie in realism of the everyday life of mankind; the tools we use, the symbols and icons, which provide us all inspiration.