Wildlife
More on the Hawfinch idea
The idea of carving a larger Hawfinch sculpture is still with me (after my thoughts during the Big Garden Birdwatch) and I’ve been making some preparations by sketching and making clay models. I’m working on ways of showing the rather flamboyant wing feathers, which have a twisty-curvy ruffled appearance at the tips Additionally, I’ve […]
Snow Curlew
I’m making good progress on my Curlew sculpture despite the east wind bringing with it snowstorms. Carving continues – the flurries don’t last long, and they give me the chance to stand back and look properly at how things are developing. This stage of working the sculpture is thrilling – there’s definitely a Curlew […]
Big Garden Birdwatch 2021
I’ve been watching the birds all weekend, but actually timed myself for an hour this morning as part of the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, after the snow flurry finished, and the sun came out. One of my aims this year was to carve the first bird I saw – spend the day, once the […]
Little Bird with ivy
I’m quite a fan of ivy, I know not everyone’s favourite, but there are so many benefits to wildlife in having thick clumps of it, as ground-cover or clambering its way up walls, buildings or trees, that I allow it pretty much free ramble. The ivy in the garden is providing wonderful, and essential […]
Partridge Sculpture
Partridges are forever connected to the Pear Tree, from the Twelve Days of Christmas carol but really they’re ground birds. I watch them often here at the workshop as they visit regularly and do like to find a vantage point as a ‘look-out’ post, usually a block of stone, or the workshop roof (where […]
Tall Owl
Tall Owl is tall and slender, appearing to be stretched up as if standing on tip-toe, and wearing I think a rather surprised expression. This sandstone owl sculpture is part of a collection just delivered to Watermark Gallery in Harrogate for their Christmas showing. They’ve opened early, to make the most of the last […]
In the Workshop today – Partridges
There’s a growing bevy of partridges at the workshop – stone carved ones, and also the wild birds themselves, that seem to like to gather around my sheds. Other collective names for Partridge are bew, covey, jugging, and warren. I seem to be working in multiples, indeed in flocks, at the moment. It is […]
The Unspotted Crake
For this sculpture, I chose a typical Crake pose – here’s how the RSPB describes this bird. ‘Spotted Crakes tend to skulk in thick cover and walk with their body close to the ground and tail flicking. They swim with a jerky action, like that of the Moorhen. If surprised in the open […]
Playful Otter
Otters seem to love bounding about in a boisterous and playful way – this ‘play’ is usually between otter cubs. The act of play is beneficial in learning physical and social skills at a time when the mother still provides protection and food. Play-fighting is frequently seen in otter cubs, who often take it […]
Mountain Hare sculpture
The Mountain Hare lives in the Scottish Highlands and the north of England in upland areas. It is most common on heathland, where it nibbles on vegetation, grazing heather, rush, sedge, and the bark of young trees and bushes. It is also known as the White Hare, Tundra Hare, Alpine Hare, or Snow Hare […]