Wood Carving in Hogsback
Every day I do a little bit more work on the cabin that I’m building up here at number 48 main road hogsback in the eastern Cape Province of South Africa. I also get out my chisels, sharpen them up and do some work Carving in Hogsback. At least a few hours worth on one of the sculptures that I’m making out of cedar wood and also out of birch wood. Carving has been a part of my art making practice for a long time although I have mostly been a painter. This year has been the year for carving and I have made several. Carving in Hogsback has been an education in itself. https://www.bashout.eu.org/2025/05/19/hogsback-village/I am very grateful to Hamilton’s gallery for acquiring some and I am aware of a number of international clients who have received theirs in places as far afield as Germany, the United states and the United Kingdom. Carving feels different to painting… the wood comes to life in my hands and I work without a predetermining sketch. Rather finding the form of what I am making in the wood itself. I think I go slowly as carvers go I’m not sure; but I am impressed with how the forms come into existence as I work as if my imagination has been given a physical space in which to work inside the wood. I find carving to be a very contemplative activity I am aware of the condition of my spirit as it affects the work. I try to discipline myself to work with slow strong strokes of the chisel and not to be tempted into rash or too rapid moves.
