Sevenoaks
Green Man.
Bernard Greatrix
English Oak, 2002
Height: 15in. Width: 10in.
Author's Notes about the Carving.
I have lived in the village of Yoxall for some 30 odd years, in what is now called the National Forest, 7 miles NW of the National Arboretum at Alrewas, in Staffordshire.
Most of my very first months salary was spent on a set of 12 Marples carving gouges and I have been carving for a hobby for most of that time, albeit when time permits so my output is not as much as I would like.
The Green Man was requested by my wife as a follow up to some gargoyle? (chimera?, anyway ugly-faced) bookends that I had made.
The finish is 'teak oil': several coats applied over several days. followed by beeswax. I found that the wax was easier to apply by blending scrapings into a small amount of the oil and then putting the soft mixture inside a course cotton rag. The wax could then be squeezed through the mesh as required.
Would you like to contribute an interesting, contemporary, Green Man (gargoyles, grotesque etc) woodcarving?
Write to me, telling me a little about it first.
I also like to make furniture and turn wood, again as time permits.
I also 'collect' misericords and have visited many cathedrals in this pursuit. One day I plan to carve one as a shelf bracket and nag my log man (firewood that is) each year for a suitable chunk.
He is in English Oak that had been converted from timber blown down in Michael Fish's non existent hurricane. I bought it to make furniture for the kitchen and this piece was left over.
The panel is about 30mm thick, the background and deep cuts leaving only about 6-8mm.
Email: bj.greatrix@uko2.co.ukt.
Or have you a friend you could encourage to have their work shown?
Yes? Then I'd love to here from you!
Thanks!
