Art Degree and Sculpture Work…
I always had a passion for art since childhood; So, I went on to pursue 4 years studying Fine Art at University. During my second year; my own art journey was about to take a completely new adventure of inspiration and self-discovery.
My drive and enthusiasm to create my own work has always only ever been truly fuelled and inspired by one thing; Nature. They would feed off from one another. Confining and limiting myself to spend more time in the studio just did not feel right; holding back from my true passion to want to create my own art work by not feeding off what I deeply appreciate the most in life; Nature.
And my journey began by spending more time out amongst nature than in the studio. Exploring, connecting and experimenting with what I could create; allowing nature itself to direct, limit and fuel how I could approach my own work and what the outcome would be. Limitations would be set by nature and the environment itself; what I was working with and where I was creating it.
The more I connected and responded to it through my own art; the more I wanted to go out and experience the landscape. It was not all about creating a final piece; but the journey of creating it. The process in which I created simply through deconstruction – reconstruction and understanding the limitations with materials I found. There is always so much going on beyond the surface in nature; the constant state of change and process through time that can be so easy not to notice.
It was back then that photography began to play a key role with some of my work; it was enabling me to feed directly from what inspired me whilst out on location. Some of my sculpture was temporary too; made out of natural materials and photographed on location and left where it deserved to be. Photography also became a way truly trying to capture a moment, a thought, an idea, atmosphere, feeling and connection with nature and has since always played a key role in the work I produce
Even back then; I was watching us lose so much of our natural landscape as towns and industries grew, modern technology and lifestyles were changing the shape of not just my local area; but across the whole planet. It sparked a desire to try merging natural and manmade materials, where the location would influence the final outcome but still used in a way that respected the characteristics and limitations of the materials. Nature was losing so much; I was watching, and still to this day continue to see so much of it being lost, over used and not looked after.
Bark trees... Found pieces of bark from fallen and decaying trees; temporarily constructed in the woods the materials were found. Respecting the bark and the use of balance to create a sculpture that would be inspired, grow, form and be left where the materials originally came from in nature.
Small Bark tree... temporary reconstructed Gathering bark from upon the ground scattered all over the pine forest in an attempt to balance, to understand and reconstruct a small bark tree temporary sculpture. Bringing the tree stump back to life and photographed in a way that made it look as if it was reaching for the canopy.
Bark Tree##2... Found pieces of bark from fallen and decaying trees; temporarily constructed in the woods the materials were found. Respecting the bark and the use of balance to create a sculpture that would be inspired, grow, form and be left where the materials originally came from in nature.
Bark and card tree stump sculpture... Found bark that had been reconstructed in a shape that respected its original form and how the material could obtain its structure. The inside was layered with torn shreds of card; acknowledging that the shape of the sculpture showed characteristics of the natural material that card comes from in the first place. The sculpture showed true sense of purpose when photographed back in the woods the bark was originally found from.
2 card trees... Card is a material that uses trees; so, I explored the idea of breaking the card down and trying to create a form that shared a link with the natural material it comes from. Taken back out and photographed in the environment it originally comes from.
Card tree.... Card is a material that uses trees; so, I explored the idea of breaking the card down and trying to create a form that shared a link with the natural material it comes from. Taken back out and photographed in the landscape in attempt to breathe life back into a small recycled sculpture.
Paper curls in tree... Small recycled brown paper curls used to temporary fix what appeared like multiple scars on the tree. The brown paper itself looked frozen in natural motion yet still feeling a sense of silent energy– just like tree rings do. A temporary installation’ photographed then paper taken back to be used on home sculpture.
Paper curls pine cones... Creating numerous small paper curls using recycled brown paper; these then merged with the pine cones in a manner that would respect its original form. They were not just added to fill the space; instead, the approach to curling the brown paper was used to also try creating movement and a quiet form of visual energy.
Bark card and paper big cone... I had previously created work using pine cones; was inspired and captivated by such a simple form. Bringing together materials and ideas from past work to create this sculpture. The form itself also began to appear and feel in the form of an egg or even a seed…. a deep connection in itself to nature yet interacted with human made materials. Photographed back out in the landscape; a place this sculpture felt like it truly belonged and interacted with.
Conker shell and paper motion The conker shells themselves are part of a natural cycle; a process of spreading seeds then decomposing to further feed the woodland floor. Interacting with the forms using brown paper curls to suggest motion and constant change; as well as using a recycled material that itself also comes from trees.
3 card cones... Found broken in the woods so my attempt to respect and restore the form using card. Taken back and photographed in the woods they were found in.
Card bark cone retake... Was so intrigued by the simple shape of pine cones. Using card and small sections of bark to layer and reform a simple natural shape.
Spikey balls and paper curls... The sweet chestnut shells themselves are part of a natural cycle; full of energy and part a process of spreading seeds then decomposing to further feed the woodland floor. Interacting with the forms using brown paper curls to suggest motion and constant change; as well as using a recycled material that itself also comes from trees.
Bark pinecone shell... Pine cones themselves being such a big part of trees natural cycle; releasing seeds of pine trees. Acknowledging and respecting the character in the form of small seed sculptures. When photographed on site; they truly felt at home.
Woodchip Cone... Was so intrigued by the simple shape of pine cones. Using card and small sections of wood chips to layer and reform a simple natural shape.
1st Year studio sculptures and installations.... The process of deconstruction – reconstruction had echoed through my work both on-site and in the studio. Where did the materials come from and what shapes and forms respected the materials characteristics. I also found the installations bought a sense of natural warmth and comfort into the studio space. All the bark was from decaying fallen trees from my local common where a lot of my first year’s location work had been explored.
Bark and inner card sculpture.... Found bark that had been reconstructed in a shape that respected its original form and how the material could obtain its structure. The inside was layered with torn shreds of card; acknowledging that the shape of the sculpture showed characteristics of the natural material that card comes from in the first place.
2nd year studio installations.... My bark wall had grown and respected the space it was reconstructed in. 3 log sculptures appeared normal on the outside; yet withing each there was an interaction of card and paper that respected the log and could only be seen when looked at closely.
3rd year installations and sculptures.... Expanding from the previous year’s installations; a new bark wall was constructed but in a completely different setting; this time I had to respect and take into consideration where the 2nd wall was being created. The amazing feelings that natural materials can bring indoors.
