Two Sisters

These are the same tree from Highfield Park, in Levenshulme. Obviously one trunk section is finished and the other is about to begin. I am hoping to make them a pair, and so for the time being they are the two sisters. This is a new departure for me into slightly more figurative work. This has come about from the shape of the trunks more than anything I think.

'Bulb' 6 months later

This sculpture is really improving with the elements. It still also feels remarkably smooth. A very nice thing to touch and look at.

RHS Show Tatton Park

Thanks to all the gardens that supported this collaborative project, without them we would have very different results.
The idea of this sculpture is that it embodies the the way in which we both work in the most simplistic manner. Justine is currently working with negative space and high- lighting negative space. I wanted to cut the wood as simply as could be and get a really nice smooth finish.
These small pieces were then put together by us to create shapes and forms that reacted to the garden they were in.
You can see more at www.cookandramchurn.blogspot.com

The Collaborative process

This collaboration has been worked on pretty much through email, blog and telephone. I have removed some images as they were part of a conversation that Justine and myself were having, I have left some relics so you can see how we worked (the text below would normally result in an email or phone call from Justine).

We will continue to collaborate and you can see this progress plus the full works at Tatton by visiting www.cookandramchurn.blogspot.com

RHS Show Tatton park Preparation

Working in collaboration with artist Justine Cook we will be making something for the RHS show at Tatton. Here are some ideas, the smaller sculpture on it's own would be part of a set of three but I'm still not sure if they would be strong enough in that huge environment to hold their own. It may be better to do something with the wood slices, hmm Justine I hand over to you...

A Birthday Commission

Black Spiral

This piece can be seen in the making further down this page. I burnt it with a blow torch to get a crisp black finish.

Curve

This is a piece of Beech Tree that came from Arley Hall Gardens.

The view through 'Bulb'

I think this picture is great. As you can see I couldn't have installed them on my own, so many thanks to all those who helped.

'Hug' and 'Bulb' at Arley Hall and Gardens

Second Installment

A concrete base has been put down to stop the plinth rotting and add stability. Each plinth section had to be drilled and then with help lifted onto the steel rods.

Installation Stage One at Arley Hall

Today we were drilling holes to concrete the steel supports into the ground. Thank you Barry for all your help.
The logs on the ground will form the plinths for the sculptures.

Polishing

Here is the first coat of polish, as you can see the Danish oil that I use really brings out the colour and grain.

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...