A LOVELY COMMISSION

This commission was to commemorate the time spent in a German organisation by three people who were leaving at the same time. Three plaques, all with the same words.

Our discussions regarding content moved from a poem to the latin gratia and finally to gratitude.  The commission presented the opportunity of combining identical and different elements with different Scottish woods : ripple sycamore, cherry, ebonised oak and burry oak. Different sized plaques but all with approximately the same area, finished with an organic oil and beeswax.

Finding a home for an exhibition piece

This piece is a collaboration with Susie Leiper, which was originally exhibited in the Wych Elm exhibition in 2009 at the Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh. All the works in this exhibition used elm from an old tree felled in the Botanics in 2003.
In 2011 I was approached by the minister at Morningside United Church at Holy Corner, Edinburgh with a very open brief to design a carved lettering work to make a contribution to the life of that very busy part of the Southside. The words of the poem by Glasgow poet Larry Butler felt so appropriate that I suggested we use this piece.
The work was reshaped, recarved and mounted horizontally on a metal frame that just sits in the space without fixings.

August

This commission in the Borders was physically quite demanding but very satisfying because the poem was so appropriate for the location, written by a man who had lived with this garden for many years.

Over the village Falls the last ray of sunset And I follow its trail forever

This memorial bench is in the same garden. The other side of the bench continues the quotation                                                                   IF NOT, WHY THEN, THIS PARTING WAS WELL MADE

WORKING OUTSIDE

Working on site, outside in the open air, can be very enjoyable but changing from one’s normal working position can have its dangers.  Working on the pergola I stabbed my hand down to the bone with a rose thorn, resulting in permanent numbness between the thumb and first finger on the right hand.  On the Falkland bench project, carving in a kneeling position resting my left elbow on a padded box for four days, resulted in damage to the ulnar nerve.   This has meant giving up the cello,  though it does mean I have discovered the amazing Kala U-bass – a fretless bass ukelele.  A new instrument that is taking the bass world by storm.

OTHER WORK

Before letter carving I used to make furniture.

This is a folding meditation stool for sitting in the Japanese seiza position. This was exhibited in Japan in the Shinanogawa Technopolis International Design Competition ’94

Ebonised quarter sawn Scottish oak and solid brass hinges.        Pyjamas from Habitat !

 

This is my interpretation of a traditional Go board made from a 3.5″ plank of ripple sycamore. Solid drawers still require finishing.  These “stones” are ceramic.  The best stones are made from slate and shell.

Go is a beautiful game which has been described as five games of chess on the same board.

April, May June, July

This was my demonstration piece at the Falkland Big Tent event in July 2010.  Finally completed.

 

 

The artist Angus Reid commisssioned this frame for the portait of the poet Ken Cockburn.  Whilst sitting for the painting, Ken read out loud his favourite poems and the names of these poets are carved on the frame.

The wood is obeche, just waxed.  Only just carvable, with a tendency to crumble – I was expecting to be supplied with beech !

 

 

The plaque for the royal opening at Stirling Castle.

Quarter sawn oak.

thank you Martin

My lettercarving mentor Martin Wenham recently retired from teaching  short courses at West Dean. He has contributed a huge amount to keeping lettercarving in wood alive as a craft. I suggested to another of his students that we mark the occasion with a joint project. Ole proposed that we each do a 70mm cube – formed, finished and carved in any way we choose.
I chose Scottish oak, which I have “ebonised”.   The quotation is one that I have been waiting a long time to use                                        LABORARE EST ORARE     work is prayer

Ebonising is an old process that involves putting wire wool (or any unfinished steel eg cut nails) into vinegar for about a week and then painting the fluid onto the bare oak, which fairly quickly turns a dense blue/black.  Works best with European oak which has a higher tannin content.  Be careful not to put a lid on the jar as hydrogen is given off which could cause a build up of pressure.  Neutralise with household ammonia.       Digital photography seems to remove the slight  lustre that you get with  an oil finish.  I also waxed the piece (after photography).

Work completed in February and March

I was commissioned by the Rev. Andrew Patterson at Portobello Old Parish Church to make a wooden cross carved with the word “love”, to be hung in their reorganised entrance hall.   I like the way that the shape chosen can be interpreted in different ways. The pear/sycamore banding suggests a garment and the cross could be seen as a person with open welcoming arms, with the “o” of love situated at the heart. The letterform is Carolingian uncial.   The cross needed to be hung 4″ out from the wall in front of an existing stone plaque and to leave space for a curtain. This presented an interesting challenge.

Lothlorien

In the late 70′s I moved to Scotland from a community near Cambridge to join another community near  Castle Douglas.  The Haughton family, assisted by lots of friends and visitors were building Scotland’s largest log house in a beautiful setting with beautiful views of Galloway’s rolling hills.  I was very much attracted to becoming part of this exciting building project.

A couple of years after the completion of the building in the mid 80′s, Samye Ling took over the running of the project and this year Benet Haughton asked me to design a plaque to commemorate the family’s involvement which I did with Benet’s involvement.   Iwas very pleased to receive this comment -

“a perfect mix of the ordered way Algy (as I remember him) worked, the gentle underlying structure of the community (meals always on time etc) with the bright colours of the hopes and joys of that place”

Edinburgh Genbukan

I seem to be discovering all the things that really interest me in my 50′s and 60′s.    Last year I started learning the Japanese martial art iai-do ( based around the use of the sword),  something that has interested me for over 30 years.    Because of a knee injury I always thought it would be too difficult to practice, however I was very pleased to discover that the first four kata performed from the kneeling seiza position can also be done as standing kata.

After discussion with our sensei and advice regarding the calligraphy from a Japanese iai-do student, I carved a plaque for the dojo incorporating our mon and the kanji for Genbukan.   The quarter sawn oak is ebonised and EDINBURGH GENBUKAN is painted.

Charlotte Chapel lectern

This Bicentenary lectern was designed and made by the cabinet maker Chris Holmes (see blog roll) in brown oak, for the Charlotte Chapel, Rose St, Edinburgh.

For the Christian Fellowship of Healing, Edinburgh

main sign in oak; hanging sign in elm

for Marchmont St Giles, Edinburgh

2 of 3 panels forming an overdoor panel above the door to the church hall from the church

Carved in tiger oak and photographed with the morning light coming through red stained glass.

Two out of ten room names for the church hall, carved in brown oak