My love of sculpture started when I was 18 and studying for my A-level in Art. As part of this I did a project on a sculptor called Ted Roocroft who was a pig farmer turned sculptor. He produced beautiful concrete sheep finished with pebbles, and specialised in woodcarving. Pieces like “War and Peace’ left me awestruck. It seemed like another world, one that was far beyond me, as I had no tools, no experience of sculpture and could not see how I could gain the skills.
Many years later an opportunity came my way to do a night school in woodcarving with Wirral woodcarver and sculptor John White. I have been carving with him for over 10 years. I started with the basics of using chisels safely, basic cuts, understanding the grain of wood and completing simple projects such as a relief carving of a leaf. He continued to guide me through a variety of projects, increasing the depth of the relief and the complexity of the subject and building up to three dimensional pieces and specific skills such as incised writing. I gradually grew in confidence and built up the range of tools I felt comfortable using. He taught me how to develop my own ideas, and the process of going from an idea, research, drawings, modelling and carving the final sculpture.
Recently I have. been lucky enough to be able to spend time carving with Master Woodcarver and Sculptor Michael Painter. In September 2017 I spent two days carving with him on a course he was tutoring in Penrith. I wanted to start to learn about carving the human face and Michael is second to none in this skill. He first ensured that all of the small group of students could use chisels safely, but we were quickly able to go onto individual projects. I carved my first human face with carefully structured guidance from Michael.
I am now lucky enough top be able to go and carve with Michael about once a month. To date I have carved a number of faces with his help and am now able to carve faces with gradually increasing proficiency. I still have portraiture and the rest of the body to learn about! Oh and so much more.