Hello again!

I’ve been out and about, Cornwall, Devon(shire), Somerset (pronounced Zummerzet).  Even The Bodger gets a trip out now and again.  I’ve never visited Cornwall previously, and I found it very beautiful and interesting.

Inevitably there was much woodwork to see, some very beautiful carving of the Early Modern era.

We were going to take the ferry to Fowey, but it was too rough so we went by car.

Also sculpture, insect-like Hepworth work in her St. Ives garden, of course she was a Yorkshire lass from Wakefield now home of the excellent Hepworth gallery..

This was a most excellently restored old Land Rover, right down to the nuts and bolts, surprised the headlights are so far apart though.

The second week, after a brief foray into Devonshire for Portland Bill and crab sandwiches, was spent by me at Bridgwater College, learning about box making with Peter Folansbee.  Jane was lucky enough to spend the week visiting interesting gardens and houses in the area.  In fact the day she was at Montacute House, Peter was telling us about an excellent article on the frieze carved on the great bed, and Jane took a photo (then lost it).

You can find the article on Jstor.  There are measured drawings on the frieze design.

We did a lot of stuff about not measuring, as you would expect from Mr F.  He’s an ace at it.

No ruler or pencil used for this:

 

I really like the Maltese cross punch Peter uses, I’ve bought a set of needle files to try and replicate it. I have a simple, rather wobbly plain cross, but this one is better.

One evening Jane and I visited (or revisited in Jane’s case) a couple of Quantock churches, The Church of Saint Margaret, Spaxton and Saint Marys, Kingston with its tower-climbing hunky-punks.

Found a couple of figures we were working on at Bridgwater College, lunettes:

and S-scrolls:

Both on tiny, ancient stools tucked away in a corner of Saint Margarets.

There were also splendid pew end carvings:

Get that – I hear the style is poppy head, several other plants in evidence on this one.  The raking evening sunlight gives great depth to the carving.  This may be somewhat later, but shows an interesting way to fill the spandrells with squared flowers in variety ignoring symmetry, one of our modern obsessions (machines are good at it).

I like the heads carved into this one, although I took it for the S-scroll:

Look! I can fly with no hands.

So a splendid holiday all in all, I thoroughly recommend Peter’s classes.

Back on Earth, I returned to rush out and do shows, it’s part of my job.

We went to Ripley Show for the first time this year, we were stationed next to The Sheep:

I’m chained in my shelter, making small hurdles, but Jane took a few photos of the judging action:

Meanwhile, back at Rose Cottage, I’m wondering just how close the architectural and carved versions or acanthus leaves are to nature …

Related articles

• Barbara Hepworth: Sculpture for a Modern World at the Tate through October 25th
• A visit to the scepter’d isle