Reflecting on reflections

Reflections

Reflections is the theme and title of my seated figure that was one of two sculptures commissioned by the Macmillan Cancer Appeal for the Royal Calderdale Hospital. The concept of a figure gazing down into a fathomless pool was my model's idea. The second sculpture was of a nude figure emerging from a vortex of autumn leaves and titled, ''You Must Believe In Spring''. From the shadow of death and despair my figures sang to high heaven in praise of the beauty of life. But depicting the beauty of the human form can be controversial.  My book ''Notes on the Nude'' tells of the uproar my innocent figures caused with the National Health Board of Trustees.

Reflections Detail

You Must Believe In Spring

''Reflections'' is also the title of Sheila Hydnman's collected poems, a facsimile of which is contained in my book ''Sheila Hyndman Remembered''. But alas, my remembrance of Sheila has fared no better than my nude figures. As one of the Caribbean foremost poets Sheila is given scant recognition in the islands of her birth.

Experiments in patination and a dram of Scotch whisky

Life-size reclining figure in high relief.

I've been experimenting with patinating the master plaster cast of my life-size figure of Annabelle. The sculpture is modelled in high relief and I have patinated the figure in dark bronze. But the surround of the figure has taxed my ingenuity. Setting the figure against the white of the plaster cast results in too much contrast of one against the other, whereas extending the same bronze patination to the surround, deprives the sculpture of life. 

The answer to the dilemma lies in the fact that bronze can be patinated in all the tints of autumn. To achieve this effect, I have used pastels to colour the white plaster ground. And this is where a dram of Scotch whisky comes into the picture. The traditional formula for fixing pastels is casein (a protein derived from milk) mixed with grain alcohol. My regular tipple of rum is made from cane, not grain, and will not do.

The photograph makes the pastel patina appear lighter than it actually is. In reality the colours are richer and darker. 

Regular followers will remember my many posts of the work in progress from clay to plaster.

Avert your gaze

The Nipple

I advise those with a Facebook account to avert their gaze from the opening image. My sculpture depicts that which is censored on social media; that being, the female nipple. That such beauty should be considered immoral, speaks volumes about society's moral standards.  Just like the stars and planets, the nipple is central to the universe.

My video ''Variations on a Theme'' reveals more beauty that is hidden in the name of decency.

Capturing the Caribbean

Road Town, British Virgin Islands.

 

The above watercolour is one of hundreds that I made over a twenty year period while sailing the Caribbean. It is featured in my latest video Capturing the Caribbean.  

My paintings were sold there and then, and only occasionally was I able to photograph a painting before a buyer whipped it away. All I have left are faded photographs and colour transparencies that have deteriorated in the heat and humidity of the tropics. Restoring the images has been a major task, as can be gauged from  the "before" detail shown below. The millions of mysterious dots may have been caused by a chemical reaction within the emulsion. Perhaps related to a fault in processing. I welcome feedback on the issue.

What's in a name?

 

Halifax Parish Church

Twenty-five years ago, the Halifax Parish Church, in status and name, became the Halifax Minster. It is a Grade 1 Listed Building, which means, the physical structure can't be messed about with. I only wish that the listing protected its name. For me, it always was and always will be, the Halifax Parish Church. As yet, its soot blackened walls haven't been stripped bare and robbed of their patina by the destructive process of stone cleaning. But doubtless, that day will come.

I hope that the Church Guardians push for status and respectability will not obliterate a remarkable grave stone that paves the entrance. It commemorate a man who fathered 19 children and fought in the wars for 25 years. I quote both figures as "thereabouts'' because I last visited the church thirty-five years ago. At that time, I was up on the roof inspecting the gargoyles. Perhaps a collector of images of the West Riding's built heritage, will leg it down the church and send me a photograph of the gravestone.

In the years of my apprenticeship, the church grounds offered a short cut to work and the equally historic Ring O' Bells Pub, that conveniently stands just outside the church gates, was the venue for the work's darts and dominoes team. But alas the pub's soot blackened walls have been whitewashed and the cobbled yard converted into a beer garden. 

Celebrating Sheila Hyndman

 

My 2024 blog posts broke all previous records, with viewers from 200 countries. In December alone the blog statistics recorded almost 10,000 hits, and each hit accessing multiple page views. Not bad for a niche subject! 

All the more gratifying is the worldwide interest in the posts that celebrate the life and work of my dear friend Sheila Hyndman. They include:

Sheila Hyndman Remembered; Curiouser and Curiouser and, Nor shall death drag thou wander'st in his shade.

The opening image is of one of the paintings I made to illustrate the novel Sheila was working on at the time of her death.