This is a piece I started some while ago, it was originally made in clay around a wire armature, then I cast it in a mixture of resin and body-filler so that I can get a smoother 'tighter' surface. It's been sitting around in my workshop for ages whilst I tinker with different details - I think I've been prevaricating, or is it procrastinating, or probably both - maybe I should just get a wax version made as a precursor to getting it cast in bronze... maybe.......

Athletic Figure

Crikey - I can't believe how long it is since I last posted anything! Oh well - how time flies; I have been chipping away at this piece over the last couple of months since I got some new extra large clamps to hold it still - the old ones just weren't up to the job any longer. The figure is gradually taking shape and getting more definition.  I've been leaving the details of the hands and face til as late as possible, sorting out the big masses first and getting the proportions about right. I enjoy the slow and steady process of carving by hand and don't use any power tools - it makes my arms and shoulders ache - but that's actually part of the enjoyment too, it almost has a meditative quality in the process......

New old wood carving

This is a piece I started carving many moons ago and then left (read forgot) for ages, it's a very old block of oak about six inches square and about two feet high. I restarted doing some work on it last weekend and think it might be worth pushing a bit further to see how it develops. My original vision for this piece was a strong, athletic figure standing proud and square, with only the head turned slightly to one side. I liked the idea of working the surface all the way with chisels (rather than smoothing the form with files/sand-paper) to leave the multi-faceted surface of repeated chisel marks - rather like beaten metal :-)

Wedding Gig

I've not updated for a while as we've been rehearsing for this gig last weekend - it was for a friend's wedding bash and we all had a really brilliant time!

One finished, one starting.....

Polished and mounted SAM2 today, it looks okay when the light shines through it. Now that's out of my system I'm starting another medium-sized figure carving; the big lump in the last photo is another piece of Purbeck and I want to do a curled-up figure similar to the Rosie bronze sculptures on my web-site: www.josburton.co.uk - I'm looking forward to working on this over the coming summer months - should keep me out of mischief if nothing else............

SAM 2 takes shape

SAM 2 - Small Abstract Marble mark 2, develops more contoured edges; as with the first piece I like the sense of movement across the form. I've decided to aim for a symmetrical/balanced look on this one and the bisecting line only runs completely through one surface and stops part way down the other surface. I've done nearly all the work so far using files rather than chisels, the marble is soft enough for the 'quieter' method - which keeps family and neighbours happy!

Another new piece

Started another small abstract in marble today - you can see the progress in the photos above, I began by using a chisel to rough out the shape but quickly found that it was just as easy to use the coarse files which are also better for keeping control........ I'm really enjoying playing with the abstract forms in this way