I have just returned from a weekend down in Windsor with the family, apart from the obligatory outing to Legoland with the kids, we also managed to have a nose around Eton School. The most striking thing for me was the stunning amount of graffiti chiseled into every bench, desk, door and wall you see. Some of this stuff dates back centuries and judging by the size and depth of some of the carving, probably took several hours to do. In the museum was a special bench where naughty boys would sit to accept their punishment, this was probably the only bit of wood in the whole school without a mark on it ! Occasionally, some of the carving would be of really high quality, obviously, these boys have been on one of my stone carving weekends for a few pointers, there are more details about my courses on my main website at www.chisel-it.co.uk and I will announce some new dates for these soon. Meanwhile over in Legoland there is a sensational collection of things created solely from Lego bricks. These range from cities,buildings and landmarks through to famous people, giant dragons, motorbikes and even a marvellous portrait of the Queen. Who are the people who make these things and how do you get a job like that? They are clearly very talented and judging by some of the humour attached to some of their creation are having lots of fun doing it. My C.V will be heading down to Legoland in due course.
Some examples of work done on a weekend carving course
Despite having fun with a camera phone, a scruffy chicken and a nice piece of Kilkenny Limestone, I have in fact been carving a headstone this week. I realise that most “proper” lettercutters like to put their stones on an easel but I have always carved mine almost flat. Although I have carved many inscriptions (mainly on site) in a vertical position, I generally find it useful to be able to manoeuvre around the stone. Perhaps this is because I am self taught, with the help of a book by Gadsby from Tiranti’s (bought before I realised most of their stone carving stuff was tut). The only downsides as far as I can tell are that you can’t view the work as well as you would with it on an easel and that you are constantly blowing away the dust and chippings and sometimes you get a stiff back from bending over…………maybe I will stand the stone up next time afterall.
Taking a closer cluck!
Welsh slate memorial
some of the 3000 letters carved into the sculpture
I was sad to hear that the Astra Zenica Pharmaceutical Plant down the road in Loughborough is going to close resulting in about 1000 job losses. My 1st major sculpture commission was for Astra Zenica and as far as I know is still there. Astra used to regularly commission artworks from Loughborough art college and the commission I won was run as a competition open to students, graduates and tutors of the college. I had recently graduated and was shortlisted with 2 of my former tutors for an interview. Sadly, they gave the commission to one of my tutors, but to my elation, I received a phone call the following day to say that they wanted to commission my sculpture too and had got some extra money. Needless to say I was extremely chuffed and treated the missus to grand night at the Ferrers Arms! I wonder what will become of “Cures”, the hoptonwood limestone column. It was designed specifically for that space but I suppose it could be moved to another Astra site, I seem to remember fixing it extremely thoroughly though so I hope they dont ask me to shift it!
"Cures". Hoptonwood limestone. 1999Some of the 3000 or so letters carved into the sculpture !
