The Craxford Snelling Workshop

Drapery Day four on drapery, started out be resolving the drawing. Then had a talk mid morning with Nina, focused on the sculpting techniques of drapery in clay. The use of straight line, weights, attention to gravity etc. Think geometric lines and planes for the initial sculpture. you must constantly look for weight in your…

Drapery Started with drawing today, continuing the larger study in charcoal. Still can’t seem to get into it, good thing the only drapery that interests me is found in the expressionist and soviet movements. Started modelling after a brief lecture from Nina. Started way too small so it’s a very small model but it’ll do.…

Very slow day today, very hungover. Still managed some ok work. Used a drill to undercut the leafs and then a very small flat to remove the marks and flatten the background. Still needs work mind. Being extra careful to not chip anything. Nags head now, has been a long week.

Stiff Leaf Cap Horrible day today, carving wasn’t too bad but started far too hard and had to force myself to calm down and slow down. Top section is close to finishing. Working my way down. Constantly moving around the cap to make sure it’s all at a fairly similar point. Trying to stand back…

Ruskin House Inscription Finished cutting the ‘U’ and then cut the ‘S’ and ‘K’. Fairly happy with how it’s coming but these big letters are very hard compared to the smaller ones I’ve done before. It doesn’t help that slate is much more difficult than the limestone. Stiff Lead Cap Carried on with this carving…

Drapery Sadly missed yesterday, but was mostly theory which was covered in Bridgman, Lanteri and other reading material. I did miss out on an afternoon of arranging the fabric so was less experienced with how they felt than the others. Even so managed about four small (A5) compositions I was happy with and the larger…

Ruskin House Inscription Spent today finalising the layout and spacing of the pub sign for Ruskin House, turned up late and spent far too long transferring the inscription. Only managed to carve 2 letters to any level of finish, even these aren’t done yet, need to touch them up and check the lines. This slate…

Stiff Leaf Cap Carried on finishing surfaces, to a point where I don’t need to touch it again. After that will carry on undercutting and digging out. Been working on the lines and am happy with how each leaf flows. Am being extra careful not to make anymore mistakes. Ruskin House Inscription Slate is cut…

Stiff Leaf Cap Almost first thing the same piece popped off so used proper stone glue this time and will do a lime mortar repair when I get the chance. Other than that it went well, finishing the surfaces of the leafs, on the right side it’s very soft and crumbly so hard to get…

Stiff Leaf Cap Good to be back. Top left of the cap, in my rush to start carving, I copied the restored section which left the masonry curve far too much compared to the plaster. Made several mistakes today, this being the worst. Was too caught up listening to music rather than the stone. Push…