Pat Haptonstall was born in Cedaredge, Colorado, in 1943. His natural talent and artistic eye manifested themselves at an early age. By the time he was six years old, he was already spending much of his time drawing. As a young boy, he suffered from asthma, so his parents moved the family to Prescott, Arizona, hoping that the climate would help improve his health. At age sixteen, Haptonstall won a statewide competition and received the Arizona Scholastic Art Exhibit Award. Thus began his life of artistic pursuits.

For twelve years, Haptonstall worked at foundries around Prescott, learning the technical aspects of creating a bronze. As an artist, however, he was largely self-taught through his own observations and the study of past ma...