Carving a robin in slate

Here is the initial rough sketch of a robin I've decided to carve for my own pleasure.

Shown here drawn out on a piece of Italian slate about 11" x 11" using a white water soluble pencil

For the first stages of roughing out I used a small 3mm tungsten carbide chisel tipped chisel and a zinc alloy dummy (shown in photo's below)

The carving slowly takes shape

Generally I prefer to work upright, with the carving on a easel, but sometimes it is easier to work flat. Especially here where working back the background to the carving

Work in progress, the detailing starting to fall into place The slate now up on the wooden easel, the carving tools clearly seen in these two pictures.

The finished carving out in the Autumn sunlight. The maximum depth of carving is about 5mm. I am particularly pleased with the creepy crawlies in each corner!

A detail of the same, with the light from the opposite direction.

The design process

These sketches show the process of design for a new memorial. The first concept was based on a great many ideas an enthusiastic client gave me, broadly speaking I think we could have worked with this, but it wasn't quite animated enough for her;

 ...so I came up with the following development

However we both felt this was getting too cluttered and busy, so I drew the next three sketches to try and simplify things a bit in order to illustrate to my client another way of looking at the whole concept that tried to say as much but with less detail.

Blackbirds are an important theme as the deceased was a great fan of these delightful birds

The next sketch was torn from my little travelling sketchbook and drawn in the churchyard of St Michael's Quarley, where I often retreat to for contemplation and inspiration (see post 27th Sept 2011)

 

 After further discussion with my client we finally came up with the design below which we were both very pleased with! This will be carved from Portland stone and is destined for St Mary's Westerham, Kent. The stone will be sourced and supplied by Dorset Stone and Marble; I aim to start carving before Christmas.

Hand forged chisels

Have ordered some new chisels from John Parsons at http://jpmasonrysupplies.com/
These are the finest on the market, made by a true craftsman and artist in steel and one of the nicest guys around.

St Mary's Shrewton

A gorgeous little 17th century plaque in the porch of St Mary's Shrewton, Wiltshire,

 St Mary's Shrewton

House name

A house name I recently carved in black Cumbrian slate

The detail below shows the finished letter painted with pale grey enamel

Salisbury Art Trail

I spent a very pleasant Sunday afternoon cycling around Salisbury looking at various art works and meeting some lovely artists. http://www.plainartssalisbury.co.uk/category/salisbury-art-trail/

http://www.themaking.org.uk/index.html

I am now registered with 'The Making' database, an organisation that acts also as agents helping to match artists with public art work commissions.