Blog
Spring Rituals
Have you heard of the Elephant Bird? These cameo-engraved glass eggs by Gillies Jones are a new collection of pieces principally inspired by the eggs of the now extinct Elephant Bird. Each glass egg explores the patterns made by the reassembly of their fossilised giant eggs. The fragmented patterns are universal in their structure, […]
Sun’s Time
We lost an hour, and then nearly another putting all the clocks, timers and dials to the right spot. It is a funny shift we’ve imposed on ourselves! It does however seem to have brought much needed sunshine and a bit of warmth. I’ve carved this little stone sundial in a simple column shape, […]
Stone adjusting to its new surroundings
Last week a delivery of stone arrived and it was so cold and still snowing here, that I left it sitting. Today is such a pleasure unpacking, removing the wrapping and straps, letting it breathe and showing the blocks their new surroundings. I really appreciate when the quarry has taken the time to send […]
Spring Welcome
Yesterday it said on my calendar Spring Begins – hurrah! Happy Springtime everyone
Lastingham in the UK Heritage Awards
Last week the prestigious ceremony in London of the UK Heritage Awards 2018 named its winners. The awards recognise the best places to stay, finest historic houses, gardens, museums and heritage sites in the UK. Castle Howard in North Yorkshire was the winner of the Great Places to Eat award, but so well […]
Cadeby Stem Vase
I’m going ahead anyway with thoughts of spring – it has turned distinctly cold with bitter wind here after half a day of warming sunshine earlier in the week. Birdsong encourages my belief that the seasons are shifting! I’ve been making some Cadeby vases, so at least some uplifting spring stems can be brought […]
Sight and Touch
It seems strange to me, but art history is littered with debate surrounding the idea that painting was better than sculpture. Luckily, it doesn’t seem to be an issue today, at least I’ve never felt a lesser artist because I carve stone! Indeed, some painters describe their work as sculpture – art, craft, creativity […]
Cautious Catkins
Twigs of hazel and willow are bursting with catkins in my hedgerow – the downy hanging flowers are soggy in the heavy mist and low cloud, but I’m rejoicing their bravery and droops of spring feeling colour. I heard curlews yesterday too. Of course it’s been a celebratory weekend, with Mother’s Day – thankyou […]
In the workshop today – a Kingfisher
Carving a Kingfisher – Kingfisher in mind – azure and rufous, fast low flying over the water with short, sharp whistle sound. Flashes of electric blue. I’m working on a series of wildlife images carved within a circular border, in a similar way to my mouse and owl. This is the start of the […]
Bird Sculpture Book
In fact it is a monograph on sculptor Geoffrey Dashwood which I’m reading at the moment. It is a magnificent and illuminating book. The sculptor himself has written sections which for me, makes it doubly inspiring. It is a book of brilliance and filled with exceptional sculpture, it heaps such a surge of beauty […]