Residency images by Liz lock and Mishka Henner

The residency went really well, during the week I was in Cruck barn with the live donkeys and goats, all very snow white especially when a robin flew in and sat on my head.
I met with Lord and Lady Ashbrook and decide where to place the sculptures in the grove. They will be going up in February.
Liz Lock and Mishka Henner arrived at the weekend to take images for press, very exciting and these pictures are courtesy of them both. Thank you Liz and Mishka.

1st Day in Residence.

I have been on site at Arley today, doing some hand sanding and talking to the public. Some very great feedback, I think everyone is looking forward to seeing them in place in The Grove. The thing which has really struck me today was how important everyone felt that the wood was from 'The Big Wood' on the Estate is now being turned into sculpture and returning to it's homeland. I was also impressed that the Beach wood is so soft some mistook it for sandstone and others plaster! It is really coming up very nicely.

On another note I was cutting at the weekend and managed to drop a new sculpture on it's head! That will be the end of that then, very annoying but today has made up for it.

It's coming together...

So I have got rid of that wheel look and done the first big sand, it will be sanded 2 or 3 more times with a power sander and then hand sanded 3 times. I have burnt one area to bring a bit of contrast to the piece.

more...

Hmmm looks a bit like a wheel from that angle, this is not good...

New carving...

Today had been a real pain. My mini carver kept on breaking down! Very annoying. So I am not as ahead as I would like to be but hey, that's the way it goes sometimes. Here are some images that show what's new.

Developments...

me working

Work in Progress...

Recent Workshop

Here is what i get up to when running workshops. These are just 2 of 12 sculptures that I made with a Primary School. We used concrete, wood templates and recycled nuts and bolts. What a mess and what fun!

Felicity Taylor, Headmistress said,
'A stunning collection of minibeast sculptures. The girls produced quality designs which were then translated into solid shapes. The girls found the whole experience fascinating and very rewarding. We were delighted with Rachel’s enthusiasm and imagination.'

Arley Hall and gardens

These images give you an idea of what it is like in the gardens, the top image is Cruck barn - maybe now you can see why I had such a debate about cutting at home or there!

Another work in progress

The black you can see on this piece is fungus, my husband thinks it smells of rotten fruit. Gave me a big scare when I saw how much it grew overnight but then i spoke to Dr David Rose (an expert I found via the Forestry Commission) and he reassures me it will go away as the wood dries out.
Not sure if either of these works in progress will make it to the gardens.

Work in progress

Here I am in 2006

Since this picture was taken I have done a CS30 (chainsaw cross cutting and maintenance course) and just want you all to know that it is all safe and I am very careful and have full chainsaw protection!

Cutting at Arley or my shed?...

I had a really hard time trying to decide whether to cut the sculptures at Arley Hall or at home. I know I am working at Arley in December and felt a bit of me wanted ownership of the wood at least for a short while. To have them in my shed is to know that the decision was correct - although at the time when Barry, my friend Kevin and myself were lugging logs into the van I wasn't quite so sure. I have a room full of shapely reminders of the gardens (seeds, pods, leaves, flowers) and can still feel a wave of calm thinking of them so until that runs out I shall cut them here in my shed.

The Wood

At the moment what I have is a shed full of Beech tree, my chainsaw and a few free weeks to have some fun! Barry has just been great, he manages the Estate and has prepared a Beech tree for me that we looked at in October. It was down due to rot - the same rot that is now blackening the wood but not to worry, once it dries out the colour will go back to normal and the grain will not be effected. Phew!

Inspiration For Arley hall, Commission in progress

'Red Oak' 2001

'Black Holes' 2005

'Three Holes' 2005

'Spiral' 2006

Arley hall and Gardens

I have been awarded a Sculpture Commission as part of Cheshire's Year of the Garden 2008. This is my Diary of events cutting and shaping wood in the lead up to March 2008 when the sculptures will be placed in the gardens for public viewing.


You can meet me in person at Arley Hall and Gardens from the 5th to the 9th December 2007 while I am on residency sanding the finished pieces.