Complicated twist

This is certainly a challenge to make. Before carving the individual segments I resolved to carve the form circular in section.The inside sections are very difficult to reach and for the moment the two halves touch in the middle. I would hope to be able to separate them at the end but will leave the material in between whilst working on the rest of the carving so as to provide a little extra strength. This will end up as being quite delicate and I must take care not to leave the joints between the segments too thin. I have been considering having the sculpture lying on its side with two points touching the base, but in the end decided on standing the piece vertically as originally proposed.

Splitting off a new block

I have a new piece started. I am a little uncertain about this sculptural direction and dithered too long at that awful sculptural crossroads. I am planning to sculpt another segmented piece but in a figure of eight form where the crossing parts do not touch. This is technically difficult, but more problematically is taking the current series off in a new direction which I am by no means sure of. Whilst carving my 100 day series, I found myself relaxing about these decisions. I told myself that it was only a day of my life and it was after all a response to a legitimate impulse. Why not? Perhaps the decision is a little like trying on an article of clothing. You never really know for sure if it is for you or not until you have tried it on. With these thoughts in mind I sallied forth into unknown territory today.

Is it Fibonacci?

Someone asked me recently if my work was about Fibonacci? Perhaps they were thinking of Peter Randall page who uses him as a major source of inspiration. I dismissed the question outright as he has never been in my thoughts. Then on thinking about it further, the current series is involving the repetition of the same shaped forms. I don’t think this is quite Fibonacci related but there is something none the less. Perhaps he had an uncle who repeated natural shapes but was no good at maths? I have set aside the last of the circular shapes and begun a new wobbling upwards form. The sculpture itself does not yet make very interesting viewing so here is a photo of ideas on a block. Ideas that all relate to Fibonacci’s uncle.

Slanted segments

The sculpture is beginning to take shape. The same sort of petal forms but laying on top of one another. I just need to work systematically to ensure that the petals remain roughly equal to one another. From here on the forms will become more rounded and softer. A second swarm of bees has arrived much to my delight although it could be the first lot relocating for some reason known only to themselves. There are still bees buzzing at the first hive but much less energetically.

Winter wonderland

The whole yard and greenhouse is turning white as there has been no rain for weeks to wash it away. Greenhouses are often painted white in summer to stop too much light entering so perhaps that does not work out too badly. I prepared the fourth and final disc today feeling sure that they will make a really strong group. I have an idea for the last one to go back to the more rounded organic forms but to stack them in a slant. Difficult to explain but hopefully all will become clear over the next few days.

Sharp edges

This sculpture came on well today with the forms gradually being shaped and sharpened. I will have to think carefully as to how I will mount these works. There will be a pin into the base of the sculpture, but coming out of what? On the right of the picture below you can see the segment that has a flattened bottom to receive the pin. I have enjoyed the difference between this piece and the one before. This sculpture is square in section and the previous one round. What a difference this makes. The square forms give points which demonstrate the shape really well and making the whole thing feel more mechanical and manmade. Further from a natural organic form.

Many segments

The carving with many smaller thinner segments is coming on well. I had to spend a good deal of the day re working the disc in order to get rid of some bits of stone that were missing and cracked stone that had to be removed. After this work the whole thing was naturally thinner and smaller than at the start of the day. Better to remove any suspect material at this stage of course. The sun continues to shine!

Sharpening the shapes

The heat wave continues and I have cleaned up the sculpture fairly well. As with the last one (feeling slightly guilty like a child who has left its peas) I have put it aside to get on with the next. The first part of the ‘next’ is exactly as with this one. 1: Creating a circular slab. 2: Cutting a circular hole in the middle. I have not decided what to do with it yet and will ponder on it over the night. I think the multiple thin segments together might be worth exploring in this circular format. This piece looks very dramatic in the slanting evening sunshine.

Too hot for me

I felt rather wilted today as the sun beat down again. I drilled a hole in the bottom of the sculpture in order to stand it upright. I then set about getting the forms to be the right shape. I shall have a good look at it tomorrow morning to decide if I need to slim down the joints further. I think they are probably going to be about right once they have been tidied up. On a domestic note, a swarm of bees has taken up residence in an empty hive which is a joy. I love to see and hear their industry. I have also caught the naughty chicken who has been eating our eggs. In the hutch with yolk on her beak!

Almost like Italy

A Mediterranean sun beat down hard all day with scarcely a breath of wind to cool me or blow away the dust. This is not a complaint you understand, I had a brilliant day. I think I have settled the number of segments question about right and the forms are beginning to take shape. As with the last piece I must get the amount of material connecting the forms right. I want to reduce the amount connecting one to another to a minimum in order to give the feeling of individual elements, but not remove so much material that it breaks. The good weather is set to remain and I shall try and take full advantage. A baby swallow fell out of a nest and landed on the car. We put it back and hope it survived the adventure.

Polo mint

The dust has been flying as I have chopped out the rough form of the second of these circular sculptures. It is worthwhile taking care over this part of the process as it is too easy to end up with a great lump or dip. I have a tendency to rush through this part to get to the exciting part but must hold myself back or risk lessening the strength of the end result. I have been wondering how many segments to make and will probably get the best idea when I can draw on the sculpture itself.

How delicate to go?

I spent today shaping the individual forms into the shapes that I want. I have had to be careful not to cut away too much of the marble holding the segments together or the whole thing will become too fragile or worse; break. I want the segments to look like separate entities touching rather than something more solid. There is quite a good deal more work to sharpen the junctions between the forms but I might put this aside and crack on with another piece along this vein. This sculpture was carved from a slab which I have split into four and might therefore make a mini series within this series, of circular sculptures.

Flower

I always knew that this piece would look floral but I confess I wish that it was more enigmatic. I would like the work to avoid such obvious associations as it pulls the abstract out of it. I always like it when people say they have seen things in my work that I have not seen myself. With this sculpture it is hard to envisage people seeing beyond the flower.Not that I have any problem with flowers but only with their domination of this form in our collective conscious. I have not set out to represent a flower but simply played with stacking the segments and have ended up here. In a Garden!

Circular tower

I know this does not look much like a circular tower yet, but I have a long way to go. I shall shape both sides of the piece before cutting into the middle. I hope that in the end the almond shaped segments will join together quite delicately. I want lots of air through the centre. I am really enjoying this new series and feeling very positive about this new direction that has emerged. I never know where I am heading and only ever plan one sculpture in advance. Ideas on paper do not always translate to marble and three dimensions. This makes planning the future difficult as I do not know where the work will lead me. In the past I have thought of this like walking through a wood on a little path. The path wanders on but you cannot see far ahead, far into the future.