Over the years he had dabbled with sculpture. Most people take pictures of their kids; he made life-size statues of a son and a daughter.

"I just taught myself," he says. "I always considered stairways art, especially circular stairways."

But he hardly seemed prepared to take on the Stockton-Malone project. "He had a lot of people talking to him about it. I felt fortunate to get this project."

Most of his fine art has consisted of abstract bronze pieces. He shows and sells them out of his house.

"I've always wanted to create," says Challis, who has even started writing novels, short stories and poetry.

"I haven't done a lot" of traditional sculpting, he says. "I was a little nervous, but it was a healthy nervousness. I'm not afraid to take on a project. I knew I could do this."

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Brian Challis' Web site

E-mail: drob@desnews.com