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Darren Jones – the man who created popular local monuments like the Estevan Soldiers' Tree and Forever in the Clouds, along with tributes to local sports and industries and a number of gorgeous private projects – is paying a visit again.  

Jones came to Estevan last week, and right away he got busy with existing and new creations. The Mercury spoke to the artist about his plans for the near future.  

He already has several projects to work on, but is open to more during his time here.  

Jones started off working on Lester Hinzman's sculpture of a contemporary veteran, which he first started carving during his previous visit to Estevan last fall.  

"I will have it finished, carved out. And as soon as I have a break comes the airbrushing," Jones said.  

"I need to bring everything into perspective now and detail. It's all in the detail. His expression, everything will change so much. That's just bulk. I needed to get a shape. And that's why I left it like that. Now he'll be slimmed down. But I want the emotion. That's really important to get that patriotic, hurting kind of emotion I need to present. He's also getting kindness from a young fellow he's just given books to, so that's really where my drive is there." 

Jones said that he always tries to carve most of the details, so as time goes and paint fades away his sculptures remain solid.   

"One thing about airbrushing is you can put in things but they disappear whenever the paint is gone. And I really want when it comes to my sculptures that once even the paint goes, the markings are still there, somebody can come by in the future and actually repaint it," Jones explained.  

Once the veteran monument is done, Jones plans on working on Forever in the Clouds that was relocated to Hinzman's yard from the Estevan Regional Airport. The artist will sand it down and refurbish the monument.  

"It just needs to be sharpened up. And of course, any cracks should be fixed," Jones said.  

He added that the monument aged really well, partially because he used a piece of Douglas fir from Porcupine Hills that's over 450 years old and is not afraid of weather and time.  

"The maintenance on this will be very, very low," Jones said.  

He also set up a tent, so rain or shine, he is able to keep working on some of the smaller projects in the yard, which he already started during the Victoria Day long weekend. On top of main projects, Jones will make a wooden propeller for the war-time plane that Hinzman and a group of his friends recovered from a field in the area last fall. The detail will be carved out of a tree that was growing through the plain wreck for years.  

Jones will also be busy with several private orders that the community may see later on in one of the local businesses. He said he is also open to new projects and ideas. If anyone would like to decorate a business, yard or house with a unique personal sculpture, they can text Jones at 403-783-0726.  

"I love telling a story. I tell the story through sculpture. That's why it's so much fun carving for people. They have a tree in their yard that's outgrowing or even a stump and they want to personalize their yard for who they are. I'm able to give them what they want," Jones said.  

Jones's current plan is to stay in Estevan for three weeks, then go back to Alberta for a little break, and then come back again for one outstanding project he is to do for a local entrepreneur. He said it will be something really exciting for him, for his customer, and also for the entire community.  

However, it was too early to release any details. So keep an eye on the Mercury's upcoming editions for information and updates about the project.