Some updates...

Hooray! my decoy duck was featured in a russian woodcarving magazine... I'm really grateful to them.

Above is a new Tic Tac Toe board game that I made for work.

Below are some resin coasters...

I havn't posted here for ages...

Just a few of the things that I have been making at work....

My First Decoy Duck Carving

Hello Folks, Welcome to my first attempt at decoy duck woodcarving. She will be a female mallard, lifesize, and will be painted to be as realistic as possible. The intention is for the duck to be displayed as decoration rather than be used in hunting... she would probably sink anyway!

She is made from European lime wood.

I will post updated progress as quickly as I can.

Please visit my website to see some more of my work...

http://craftsman.mosaicglobe.com/

Blocks glued together ready to start...

Initial roughing down to form the basic body shape. I am not trying to achieve the final dimensions but to 'sketch' the general outline. If you try at this stage to be too accurate, you risk going wrong with no way back!

Head profile cut out, with basic lines drawn on to shape the rest of the head.

Head shaped roughly. The head is more delicate now as the surface area of the glued section is getting smaller. Any heavy shaping should be done now to minimize risk of breakage.

I think that I have got over the awkward stage when it can be frustrating to not be able to 'see' what it will look like. That stage can be the make or break of the whole project.

She's not finished yet... Please check back soon!

or visit my flickr site...http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftsman/sets/72157605107492608/

Or my website http://craftsman.mosaicglobe.com

My artwork..and my banjo playing...

This is my second attempt at playing in public...hmmmm needs a bit more work I think. All the artwork was made by me.

I am seeking a new position...

After more than twenty years in manufacturing it is time for me to branch out! I have been involved with several companies at a management level and have contributed significantly to their creative and technical reputations. I have been involved at all levels within these companies and have maintained a professional level of craftsmanship throughout. I have been responsible for the design, pattern making, mould making, machining and finishing of a large number of products for the brewery, point of sale and decorative industries.

I feel it is now time for me to spread my proverbial wings and tackle a new career head on. My aim would be to work in the field of visual arts, in a capacity that would give me a degree of control over the creative process. If anyone reading this has the ability or the contacts to help me achieve this please contact me via this blog. All of the work on these posts below was handcrafted by me. Many thanks for taking the time to look.

Craftsmanship or bad example?

The picture below is my first stumbling venture into the timeless traditional craft of knife making. Since the dawn of time humans have fashioned tools for everyday living. As with many things these skills have evolved into a complex and diverse set of disciplines which I am endeavoring to participate in.

When I first saw some of the modern knife makers art I was astonished at the level of skill and abilities required to produce these magnificent items. I got straight down to work hunting down the raw materials to make my own. Not having access to a forge or a metal workshop I decided to start by buying an already manufactured blade to which I was going to attempt to craft the handle. With materials on their way I eagerly set about making the necessary preparations to begin work. The next day the blade arrived, neatly packaged, and I tore it open to reveal the polished glint of steel. It was only then that it dawned on me, like someone leaving a darkened room into the bright sun, that this was a weapon....

This may seem at first naive, but I was so caught up in the design and craftsmanship involved that I failed to see the obvious. It was also at this time of receiving the blade that it came on the television news that yet another young person had lost their life to knife crime here in England.

All through the making of this piece I felt a tangible unease as if I was doing something wrong. the question I suppose that I am putting to you here is...

Am I potentially contributing to the glorification of weapons in society by posting pictures of my work on the Internet? (Even though, I might add, this knife will stay locked away now until I find a responsible adult collector to pass it on to.)

Or can I feel safe in the knowledge that a weapon is 'in the eye of the beholder' so to speak. in other words if you intend something to be a weapon it becomes one whatever it might be.

If you have any thoughts on this please leave a comment.

Craftsman

Artist or Craftsman?

This is something I have always had a problem with. People tend to see Art as being somewhat 'better' or more 'respectable' than Craft. So if you say that you are an artist, it is perceived that you are somehow saying 'My work is better than mere craft'. It is for this reason I have always shied away from labelling myself as an artist. I prefer the label 'craftsman' too because it infers a level of quality to the work, which often 'modern' art seems to lack.

All of the work here was handcrafted by me.

Bronze effect Shield and Axe

Dragons head axe and shield

Bronze Helm

Art Doll - The Fool

Figure Carving - Nude

Thank you for getting this far down the page! While you are here you might as well take a quick look at my short video that I made to promote my work. Take a few seconds to let me know what you think. It works much better with the volume turned up.