Sculpture
Shrew Sculpture – Egyptian style
A fascinating ancient Egyptian bronze shrew sarcophagus, dating to the Late Period, 664 – 332 BC. I found this image at ArtAncient whilst searching for information about shrews – to get to know more about these little mammals that I’m rather fond of, as you know from this recent shrew, and this one. The […]
She who hesitates ……
I’ve just started a little sketch in slate. Having not worked slate before I made a very tentative start. The efficient and helpful Burlington Stone supplied samples of their greenish Broughton Moor stone and the grey Brathay (which is the one I’ve carved here). I have never thought of myself as a nervous carver, […]
Phew! Easy does it drilling
Drilling stone can be hard work. At the very least carbide tipped ‘masonry’ drills are needed. I’ve always found it difficult to keep the drill steady and straight, but I’m getting better with practice. Often the base of a sculpture needs drilling, so that it can be secured in place on site and […]
October Fair
There’s a colourful, bold image on the front of the Affordable Art Fair’s brochure – a vivid pink lady with hoops and balls. It made me smile, it was a craze when I was young and I remember trying to be good at keeping the hoop up around my middle, wiggling and swaying to […]
I wrote a poem
Because it is Poetry Day – the theme is Light – and I love light on stone. It falls in shadows and helps me see. Highlight delves, dances and sets free the line, curve, rhythm and hollow, guiding my pressing deeper – I follow hammer hopeful, my favourite chisel and me. I’ve really enjoyed my few weeks […]
Badger with gilded paws
Today – 6th October, 2015 is National Badger Day, so I’m thinking about badgers a lot, and the work of the Badger Trust the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and locally Ryedale Wildlife Rehabilitation. Though I’ve carved a number of badgers, there’s a sculpture I love by Beth Carter called Badger with gilded paws and here it […]
Noah’s Flower Festival, Lastingham
Mr and Mrs Noah – my contribution to Noah’s Flower Festival in Lastingham – they’re now in place to steer the ark and keep an eye on those giraffes, and all the other animals.
Staithes Studios Gallery
Yesterday I visited Staithes, as it was the opening day of the new Staithes Studios Gallery. The gallery is owned by Ian and Stef Mitchell, and is curated to reflect a passion for the natural, organic and abstract, offering a hand-picked range of contemporary fine art, applied craft, art materials and workshops. Staithes is […]
Thoughts of Bop
Bop is a tiny, few week old Tawny Owl chick, found by Countryside Tales blog in the road, bleeding. The injured bird was quickly taken to someone who has expertise in wildlife rehabilitation who was able to care for it. I’ve been thinking about how lucky it was that someone who has understanding and knowledge of wildlife […]
NYOS 15 – Moors & Coast
At the moment the apple blossom at my workshop is smelling, and looking, heavenly – and I’m enjoying the view of my workshed (the building that I love most in the world) through it. It is only a couple of weeks until North Yorkshire Open Studios 2015 and preparations gain momentum across the region […]