Tag: timber

Rook

Rook

I finally have the perfect mount for my rook sculpture; a piece of marine timber hauled from the River Medway estuary near Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent. It has been cut to expose rich earthy colours, and wonderful texture. I love the way it has been carved by burrowing sea creatures. From being in the salty water so long it is rock hard.

The rook is sculpted in black and white clays with a touch of glaze giving a glossy sheen. He is sitting comfortably with a full crop and watchful eyes. The clay is stoneware so can be kept inside or out.

The whole sculpture is just over 50cm tall.

 

 

Cave Horse

Inspired by our Ancestors

cave horse in the garden

The horse took shape in Ellen’s imagination inspired by cave art. An organic form emerged from the clay, her hands marking it as our ancestors marked their walls leaving their handprints reaching forward from prehistory. The surface of the finished horse resembles a section of cave wall.

handprints on cave horse

This ceramic horse is mounted on a substantial piece of timber, a natural work of art, which Ellen found washed ashore near the old dockyard on the River Medway. The timber was shaped by Britain’s maritime industrial heritage and coloured and eroded by it’s time in the waters of the Medway, perfect for the Cave Horse! It’s rich colouring is reminiscent of the natural pigments used by ancient artists, and reflects the colours of the glaze.

weathered timber

 

Stainless steel joins the two, a modern material linking history to prehistory.

steel mounting rods

cave horse left side

close up of cave horse

This smaller ceramic horse was also inspired by cave art.

small cave horse