Work in Progress

I'm trying to decide which way to mount this carrot.

 

The lemon isn't looking very lemony, needs tweaking.

 

As does the mushroom.

 

Visual Influences & Artists

Hopefully looking at a someone else's work will help rectify my dodgy carving.The posing of these figures, the execution...I wish, I wish, I wish.

Norwegian sculptor Gustave Vigeland. 1869-1942

212 Bronze and granite figures in Frogner Park, Oslo, Norway

Work in Progress

Woman with Knife II

Ahhh! It's not right! I don't know why I think washing off the stone dust is going to help.

Work in Progress

I'm just recycling an old carving. I felt that the original lettering wasn't going to help sell the piece. 

 Hopefully someone will buy it. Now what do I charge....

New Work

Gorge

Cornish Soap stone

In the Studio

Books

                                      STONE A Legacy and Inspiration for Art
                                      By: Jake Harvey/Joel Fisher/Jessica Harrison & Noe Mendelle
                                      Published by: Black Dog Publishing

This is a really lovely inspirational pictorial book. It covers all aspects of stone production and carving. They've made calipers and grinding discs look elegant. I can't recommend it highly enough. If you know someone who is even vaguely interested in taking up stone carving, give them a copy. My copy is suitably dusty.

In the Studio

 Cleaning the Festoon

In order to free-up some space in my workshop I took up the offer of storing this festoon in my sister-in-law's garden. Forgot to seal it! At the moment it is slowly being cleaned up.

Work in Progress

Woman with Knife II

 

I'm procrastinating again. I made the plinth for the carving instead of working on the face!

Visual Influences and Artists

Edmonia Lewis

Edmonia Lewis 1845 New York -1907 Hammersmith, London

Neoclassical marble sculptor

The Death of Cleopatra 1867

Smithsonian Art Museum

I have had a picture of Edmonia on my studio wall for years. I'm not a fan of the Neoclassical style but I'd never seen work from a black female artist of such standard and was drawn to her because of it. Looking at her work again has confirmed my guilt at having to dumb-down my skills as a carver in order to sell.

Archive

The slab of stone was one of several I got from St Paul's Cathedral after they'd been doing restoration work.

Cowrie Shells

Limestone, 42.2 x 44 x 7.5 cm

Work-In-Progress

Woman with Knife II

I'm still working on this hand, paring it down to size. I still can't decide on a face for her.

Lettering

A quick piece for the Artist Open House coming up next month.

Work-In-Progress

A quick seed pod try-out in super soft Bath stone.

Visual Influences & Artists

The Costa Rican born - Mexican artist Francisco Zuniga was I think the first artist I took note of at art college. We had a trip down to London from Wolverhampton Polytechnic to the Haywood Gallery to see an exhibition of Mexican art.

I had the opportunity to go for 2x months with a group of artists to Mexico City in 1994. I spent the last of my money just before returning on a huge, silk bound monograph book on Zuniga. This is my favorite piece.

Archive

   My favorite carving of all time. This piece really sums me up as a carver and artist. I love it.

Raw Ginger

Limestone 42.7 x 37 x 7.1 cm

Work-In-Progress

Orchid Project  

A quick clay maquette was made.

I'm enjoying recycling old carvings

New Work

I've been looking at the Lady's Slipper Orchid recently. It's sufficiently bulbous for my needs.