At ROFFS™ we annually select an artist that we would like to feature as our “Artist of the Year.” The purpose of this honor is to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with relatively new and up and coming artists in the marine community. We select artists based on a variety of objective and subjective criteria. Previous recipients have been Don Ray, Steve Goione, Cary Chen, Kevin Brant, Barry Barnett, Daniel Jean-Baptiste, Mark Ray, Tony Ludovico, Judy Shillingburg, Larry Rackley, David Mellor, Dustin Cole, Dennis Friel, Adrian E. Gray and Kelly Reark.
This year, the ROFFS™ “artist of the year 2019” is R. Hanes Hoffman Jr. / Bluewater Copper Works.
We hope the samples of his art will make our website a more interesting place to visit. We hope that it will promote him and his art and that our web visitors will tell other people about the art and generate sales for the artist. ROFFS™ does not get a commission or any direct financial benefit from this. We do not charge any fee for anything or ask for commission on any sales we bring to the artist. We will not take orders, but instead refer people to the artist’s website directly. This is clearly shown.
Meet our 2019 ROFFS™ Artist of the Year – R. Hanes Hoffman Jr. / Bluewater Copper Works


Creations from Bluewater Copper Works are individually hand-crafted from solid copper by R. Hanes Hoffman Jr. Hanes has been creating this art since 1997 and he is grateful for everyday in his studio! He uses a variety of hand tools to achieve authentic detail of each species. Works are then painted with flame to produce beautiful markings and iridescent colors. Each piece is then finished with a clear coating to deter oxidation. This work is three-dimensional, one-sided, bas-relief sculpture. Each piece is fitted with a hanger on the reverse, ready to hang on a hook. This art is functional for outdoor as well as indoor use. Please the Processes & Videos page on his website to see some of the techniques he employs.
Biography
A life’s fascination with the beauty of fish and other wildlife helped lead me to choose copper as the medium best suited for sculpting my creations. I feel that the “friendliness” of this metal is so attractive to work with and it lends it’s qualities to realism.
I work in a variety of scale and proportion, from small wall-mounted sculptures to large scenic wall installations. I also make several standard designs of beautiful fish trophies for tournaments. Or I can create a unique piece to commemorate your special catch.
I use my fishing time not only as rest and relaxation, but also as research and development. I am constantly examining and photographing each species I encounter. In my work I strive to depict each species realistically, but with an artist’s eye for detail and attention towards creativity. My work is both interpretive and realistic.
R. Hanes Hoffman Jr. is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who lives and works in Western, North Carolina. An avid fisherman, mountain biker, naturalist and world traveler, I take pride in capturing the essence of each species of wildlife depicted in my sculptures. My sculptures can be seen in fine gift shops and galleries in many parts of the country and are included in private collections worldwide. Each piece is unique, signed and dated by the artist with a good luck penny behind the eye.
Contact Hanes for custom orders, scheduling, or questions that you may have for his via email or through his website – bluewatercopperworks.com.
Sample photos of Hanes Hoffman’s work are shown below – thumbnails zoom when clicked on…
We believe that this “Artist of the Year” is a win-win relationship for all concerned.
Previous Recipients Include:
- Don Ray – http://www.donrayart.com/
- Steve Goione – http://www.stevegoione.com/
- Carey Chen – http://www.careychen.com/
- Kevin Brant – http://www.kevinbrant.com/
- Barry Barnett – http://barrybarnett.com/
- Daniel Jean-Baptiste – http://www.jean-baptiste.com/stluciasilk/WELCOME.html
- Mark Ray – http://www.markraystudio.com/
- Tony Ludovico – http://www.tonyludovico.com/
- Judy Shillingburg – http://www.shillingburg.com/
- Larry Rackley – http://www.yellowfingallery.com/
- David Mellor – http://davidmellorart.com/
- Dustin Cole – https://www.facebook.com/DustinColeArt
- Dennis Friel – http://www.dennisfriel.com/
- Adrian E. Gray – http://sportfishgallery.com/
- Kelly Reark – http://www.waterfrontkelly.com/