Last impression rather than lasting impressions?

I went to Somerset College on Friday to get more sketchbooks and found that the remains of my sculpture had finally been removed, and all that was left was the memory........

Photos in memoriam of 'Square Peg'

This could become a whole new 'body' of work following on from last years Horn of Plenty...

Hibernation over?

Now we're nearly in British Summer Time, I've decided to come out of hibernation. But working outside in the arctic wind this morning I may change my mind....

I've just taken delivery of 10,000 (40kgs) of teasels from a company in Yorkshire that imports them from Spain. This is Dipsacus sativus, the hooked teasel, which is still used by top-end clothing manufacturers, such as Johnston's of Elgin, to hand finish their garments.

I became fascinated by this humble teasel when researching it's history last year, and have several ideas for new work. The huge boxes are now taking up space in my hallway and blocking the daylight from our front door.

Winter weather takes it's toll

Driving past Somerset College today I saw what was left of my six foot six cube……notice the absence of the college sign, and further down the road several garden fence panels had been ripped apart.
Never underestimate the power of nature.

I wonder how long the college authorities will leave it before it becomes firewood!

LOL cat likes the Horn of Plenty

I never thought I’d see a genuine LOL cat, but look at the marking’s on this cat’s side!

(I ought to add that I only know about LOL cats because of my son’s obsession, and because I read about them in the financial pages of the Guardian….)

Installation is now complete, and Julia Ridge phoned me this morning to suggest that with the weather being good, today would be a good opportunity to get some photos.

The journey from Kinston St Mary has unfortunately caused a small amount of damage to the thatching.  On my way home, I managed to find  a few reeds, and  hope to return and make good in the next couple of days.

The cats obviously appreciate this work of art, as it provides a good look out point and scratching post. What more could you want, function as well as beauty!

Horn finds a New Home in Hillcommon

Thursday 17th October saw an early start at Little Yarford Farmhouse, with the artist,  garden owners,  new owner of the Horn, and ‘the removal men’  (a team from Mark Butterfield Furniture) on site at 08.30 , AND it wasn’t raining!

Paul Ridge of Hazelmere, Hillcommon, is the new owner of the Horn of Plenty, and plans to install it on his land.

Paul said; ‘ When I first saw the Horn of Plenty I loved its shape, scale and how it looks different from every angle.’

The removal proved to be surprisingly straightforward (from a non participant),  although we nearly lost a man in the pond!

Although some of these pictures are blurred, I like them, and I was walking backwards at speed on wet grass!

First impressions?

As Somerset Art Week 2013 ended, I arranged to be in the garden for 5pm, to ‘move’ the Horn of Plenty, so the grass could regrow. This was what I uncovered…..

Shaggy dog stories ?

A wet day, but at least the rain wasn’t torrential. A thick mist blanketed the Quantocks Hills obscuring our view from the tump. With the weather still being quite warm, the garden itself was steaming. The ‘Horn’ has now gone all shaggy in the rain, with the ends of the raffia hanging down vertically, and now resembles a wet, shaggy dog.