Wildlife
Sharing a shed with a Barn Owl
Each morning now when I get to the workshed I do a little search, to find out if my Barn Owl has spent time there overnight. Underneath the spot where it has been roosting are copious splatters – so I can tell exactly where it has been – along with the pellets and preened […]
A Big Birdbath
I’ve been making a big Birdbath – certainly big for me, in fact I think it is the largest one I’ve ever carved. At just over 4 feet square, the top took quite a lot of chiseling out. Here I’m making the bowl shape which will be filled with water for the birds to splosh around in and […]
Moles are good swimmers
Generally moles dig their nest chambers well above water levels, so heavy rain and seasonal weather change doesn’t cause them concern. On the occasions when severe flooding occurs and their tunnels become submerged, moles are able to swim to higher ground and safety. They swim well, I suppose those great digging front feet make […]
Finding out what’s in the Barn Owl pellet
I teased apart the Barn Owl pellet and found numerous tiny bones, two skulls and three sets of lower jaw bones – all belonging to small mammals. There were leg bones, obvious ribs, scapula and pieces of the backbone. After pulling all the bones out, and separating them the best I could from the […]
My very own Barn Owl
I think …. During this last week, or thereabouts, each morning when opening up the workshop , I’ve been met with a chaotic scene. Things have been knocked over and moved, but most of all the shed is splattered with bird droppings. Not the little bird type, which I’m used to – but these […]
Holly Sprig
There’s a holly growing in the hedgerow at my workshop, it is where the blackbird nested this year and it is usually busy with birds flitting to and fro and disappearing into its thick mass of prickles. A sprig was plucked from it for this scraperboard drawing – and made into a Christmas card (available now in […]
Birdstones
This stone looks just like Polyphant, the Cornish Soapstone that I regularly carve. In fact, when I saw this bird shaped stone, my first thought was that it looked like one of my sculptures. It is one of the Birdstone pieces held by the American Museum in Britain – a museum of American […]
Alabaster Mouse
There is something a bit magical about working alabaster, it has a hint of translucency which is enhanced with polishing, and a sort of soft glow. This is a very small piece of Fauld Alabaster – I can only obtain tiny chunks of this stone, the seams having been worked out, so it is […]
Winterlude – now open!
It is a beautifully simple and easy site to browse and buy artwork created by North Yorkshire artists, but Art Connections also offer the an extra facility, so that you can pay over the phone during office hours if you prefer, and at the same time discuss delivery options. Really hope you enjoy […]
Misty Morning
It is the time of year for these bewitching views. The day began with a blanket of thick fog and damp air. It created quietness and glistening dew drops from every stem. Fungus flourishes.