Blog
Rabbit
This is the result of my chipping – a Rabbit sculpture carved in Portugese Rose marble. Last year when I was collecting from one of the nests my geese were laying in, there was a little rabbit sitting right in the middle among the eggs, all cosy. I was able to get very close and […]
Possibly a perfect match ….
According to Chinese astrology, each year – starting from the Chinese New Year, is associated with an animal sign, occurring in a twelve year cycle. 2015 is the year of the Goat. I love the idea that you’re an animal sign – it makes sense to me. I rather like the sound of being […]
Smoke Signals
It is a familiar sight at this time of year, billowing smoke on the horizon. I remember as a child playing camp and sending smoke signals back to the house with and old blanket waved over a makeshift wood fire. I hoped the smoke would be seen from far away, and my magic messages understood […]
The Goose that laid
My geese have begun laying – in fact this is my very first goose egg of 2015. I knew laying would start quite soon, as my girls went quiet and slow, giving much attention to their underparts and being rather secretive. In my little ‘Guide to Keeping Geese’ it says that geese traditionally start laying […]
Calls of “pee-wit”
Its busy in the fields above my workshop – the noisy carrying-on makes me down-tools and take a few minutes to enjoy the sight and sound. Lapwings have returned – they nest in these fields and presumably they’ve come to select and compete for the best sites. Soon there will be courting displays which are wonderful […]
Full of heart
This is a little pot I made specially for Valentine’s Day. It is carved in my favourite sandstone and simply planted with a white hyacinth. On the front I carved out the outline of a heart shape, and then infilled with lead, and tamped it down to give the metalic hammered effect. I’ve wanted […]
Little by Little
….. chip by chip
The White Fox Gallery
This is White Fox – it’s a little piece I carved to celebrate my forthcoming exhibition at the White Fox Gallery. I’ll be showing work as a guest artist, alongside another stone carver Natasha Smith, whose work is also inspired by the natural world, following themes such as shells, leaves, insects, clouds, fossils and hollows – I’m […]
For smooth curves
Abrade, repeat – abrade, repeat, repeat, repeat ….. To achieve smooth curves and clean lines in stone (which I like in my sculpture), I need abrasives. Lots of them, and lots of elbow-grease. After the chiseling, and filing, the surface still has marks, and these need to be sanded away. My hand feels the […]
Weathervanes and Wellingtons
As I walked past this weathervane recently it was getting quite a battering from the wind, spinning and jittering left and right, undecided, buffeted into whining as old metal does. It made me think about how it actually worked – the compass points were correct, but I wasn’t sure about the other bit. Weathervanes have a […]