Last update: August 2006
Some of my other hobbies
Stonemasonry
I have more hobbies than is relaxing... Several years ago, a friend asked me if I would like to come along on a stonemasonry
weekend. I had no clue what I was letting myself in for, but I'm always eager to try something new, so I went along. As it turns out, this
is another hobby that would become an addiction with me if the equipment weren't so outrageously expensive...Instead, I just try and
go on one of the four-day weekend classes offered. Our stonemason, Marcel, is a young and very talented guy, who coaxes us along and is very
talented when it comes to giving our efforts the finishing touches, and who is extremely gifted at glueing parts back on that we chopped off
inadvertently... You can see the results of these classes below.
This is a sculpture made of yellow sandstone.
The design is a modification of a sculpture I saw in a romantic movie...I'm trying to find out who the artist is. The original was probably
not made of sandstone and looked more rounded at the edges. My version is roughly 90 cm high, the block I started out with weighed roughly 120 kg, and the
finished sculpture now weighs 52kg. I didn't know that when I carried it to my car, ahemmmm. Made in the class of August 2006. Below is a picture of
the other participants in the class and their works.
One of the classes of August 2006. I'm the red-head knealing in front on the right. By now, I usually know at least half of the people attending - we all look forward to each class and to
seeing each other again. The atmosphere at Hohebuch near Schwaebisch Hall, Germany (the place at which the class takes place) is so warm and welcoming, the food is
great, and all we need to worry about is our sculptures. Five days of total bliss!
This is a sculpture made of red sandstone. My first "break-through" in sculpting....Another variation of a Hans Arp sculpture. Made in the class of May 2005.
This is my interpretation of a Hans Arp sculpture. Made of sandstone in the class in August 2004.
This is a sandstone sculpture I made in 2003. I got the idea from another sculpture by Hans Arp.
This is a sculpture made of "Travertin" (don't know the English term for it), a stone somewhat tougher to work at than sandstone.
My first attempt at a more complex sculpture, made in the class of 2002. It took me 7 days to make it.
This is a sculpture made of red sandstone I made in 2001. My first attempt at a more abstract work.
Getting the planes of the base right took me four days alone - I took another three-day class to get the sculpure top done.
This is me, hammering away at the sandstone cat sculpture. This was another one of these great retreats for four days, food and lodging was included, and all
we had to do was work away at the stone. It was a wonderful prolongued weekend, with interesting people in the group, some of which were
excexptionally gifted at working with stone.
This picture shows the works of the all the members of my 2000 class in stonemasonry.
I took another class in August 2001 and made two sculptures - the African mask on the log, and the longish
stone to the right of it (marked by a V). The latter I call my "cuddle stone". I worked
out something resembling an eye in the front. I rounded the back off and polished it until it was smooth as silk , and then worked
around one side to the front, chiselling a sort of column. It feels wonderful to run a hand over the smooth stone.
This is a sandstone cat sculpture I made in 1999, and I'm immensely proud of it! Sandstone is a lot harder than alabaster, and I had
a backache and sore arms when it was done. It's about 50 cm (20 ") high, and everyone recognizes it, which is a great achievement for
someone like me who isn't very gifted in the drawing and 3D department!
This is an alabaster sculpture, my first attempt at stonemasonry. Alabaster is the "beginner's stone", since it's so easy to work at.
This is supposed to be a snake curled up on a stone, head elevated. Sarcastic friends call it petrified turd, but I claim
they're just jealous!
