David Carter Natalie Aird Michael Lythgoe Julia Smith
ENGINEERING METAL TRANSFORMING GLASS CARVING WOOD POTTING CLAY
David Carter, Natalie Aird, Michael Lythgoe and Julia Smith
‘Handcrafted - Metal, Glass, Wood & Clay’ This exhibition focuses on the work of four very talented craftspeople. Each manipulates their chosen raw material - clay, wood, glass and metal - to create works of art. The nature of the material is fundamental to the appearance and concept of the work. Each artist finds a particular satisfaction in their own working processes and techniques. By providing interesting nuggets of information on the materials, methods and inspiration behind the work we hope that this exhibition will give a unique insight into the exceptional technical and artistic skills of David Carter, Natalie Aird, Michael Lythgoe and Julia Smith. The entire exhibition can be viewed on the Castle Gallery’s website at: www.castlegallery.co.uk Cover: Natalie Aird Detail of Ice Pool II
David Carter Large Twisted Flat Five Candelabrum steel, 55(h) X 64(w) cm
METAL
David Carter Round Seven Candelabrum, steel and bronze, 40(h) X 35(w) cm
David Carter creates his metal artworks using forged, fabricated and laser-cut steel, stainless steel and bronze. He is skilled in CAD (computer-aided design) and CAM (computer-aided manufacturing), sheet metalwork, punching, forming, and architectural metalwork. His clocks and candlesticks are finished by polishing, patinating and painting and are a perfect marriage of engineering and art. David has a large studio forge near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire and enjoys the feeling of doing battle with the metal, using both ancient methods and the latest technology. All David Carter’s work is individually made by him, numbered, signed and dated, usually via a stainless steel plaque fitted under the base or inside a candle flare as appropriate.
David Carter Above: Flat Triple Candelabrum, steel, 30(h) X 35(w) cm Left: Round Triple Candelabrum, steel, 30(h) X 22(w) cm
David Carter Extra Large Wall Clock steel, acrylic & aluminium 88(d) cm Hands of clock may vary
David Carter From left to right: Medium Gothic Mantel Clock, steel and acrylic, 34(h) X 15(w) cm Wall Clock, steel and acrylic, 55(h) X 12(w) cm Small Gothic Mantel Clock, steel and acrylic, 25(h) X 8(w) cm
David Carter Twisted Flat Five Candelabrum steel, 40(h) X 55(w) cm
David Carter From left to right: Pair of Candlesticks (either side), steel and bronze, 29(h) X 8(w) cm Flat Triple Candelabrum, steel and bronze, 34(h) X 21(w) cm
David Carter Small Mantel Clock steel and acrylic 29(h) X 10(w) cm
Natalie Aird Rainbow Double Dish glass, 9(h) X 23(w) cm
GLASS
Natalie Aird Small Clock, glass, 30(h) X 20(w) cm
Natalie Aird uses a combination of kiln-forming and cold-working techniques. Her fused glass pieces are created by joining pieces of glass together in the heat of a kiln. Careful cooling results in solid, single glass forms which can be shaped further by slumping and sawing. The handmade nature and variations in the kiln-firing process mean every glass piece produced is unique. For this exhibition she has developed a range of new pieces incorporating a rainbow stripe including tealight holders and vessels. Natalie is influenced by her Highland environment and with temperatures down to -15oC last winter she decided to embark on a series of ice pools. These are framed light boxes with multiple layers of glass reminiscent of the marks left by the freeze/melt/freeze cycle on shallow patches of water.
Natalie Aird From left to right:
Rainbow Double Stripe Slim Vase glass 13(h) X 5(w) cm Rainbow Stripe Wee Vessel glass 6(h) X 7(w) cm
Natalie Aird Small Rainbow glass, 5(h) X 14(w) cm
Natalie Aird Rainbow Srtipe Dishes, glass, 14(d) cm & 7.5(d) cm
Natalie Aird Rainbow Stripe Tealights glass, 6(h) X 6.5(w) cm
Natalie Aird From left to right: Ice Stack Light, glass, 29(h) cm, Ice Flower Stack, glass, 10(h) X 15(w) cm & detail of Ice Stack Light
Natalie Aird Ice Pool II, Cairngorms, glass, 31.5(h) X 31.5(w) cm
Michael Lythgoe Shoal of Eight Mackerel painted wood 28(h) X 55(w) cm
WOOD
Michael Lythgoe Single Wee Mackerel, painted wood, 8(h) X 12(w) cm
Michael Lythgoe carves softwoods using drawknives and spokeshaves. He prefers to work with Western Red Cedar because of its beautiful grain and Hemlock because of its weightiness. Driftwood is also sometimes incorporated into the design as a foil to the smooth finish of the carved wood. On a trip to Cape Cod Michael purchased an old wooden decoy and this was the catalyst for his artistic carving career. He has evolved his own distinctive style which combines the eye of an ornithologist with the skill of an engineer. His favourite bird species is the loon. From wrens to orca whales, each sculpture is unique.
Michael Lythgoe Avocet Pair painted wood, 28(h) X 45(w) cm
Michael Lythgoe Above: Wagtail, painted wood, 20(h) X 30(w) cm Right: Elevated Oystercatcher, painted wood, 38(h) X 22(w) cm
Michael Lythgoe Detail of Barnacle Geese in Flight
Michael Lythgoe Barnacle Geese in Flight, painted wood, 66(h) X 40.5(w) cm
Michael Lythgoe Decoy Birds: Made using reclaimed redwood Top:
Tufted Duck painted wood 23(h) X 35.5(w) cm Left:
Eider painted wood 18(h) X 46(w) cm Right:
Gooseander painted wood 25.5(h) X 61(w) cm
Michael Lythgoe Yellow Wagtail, painted wood, 30.5(h) X 28(w) cm
Julia Smith Selection of Mugs, ceramic, 14(h) X 8(w) cm
CLAY
Julia Smith Bee Pot, ceramic, 10(h) X 10(w) cm
Julia Smith throws and hand-builds domestic pots with red earthenware clay. This is a fairly porous clay but it becomes watertight after the addition of a layer of glaze. Her pots are decorated with a white slip and a glaze that fires to a smooth cream over the white slip and a light blue over the red clay, turning purple if applied thinly. Hand-drawn transfers are applied to the surface and fired to give sharp clean lines as a contrast to the fuzziness of the glaze. Each individual piece is unique and although two may look similar they will feel different. Julia’s work is concerned with contrast and balance, using a combination of raw and refined finishes, traditional and industrial processes. The natural environment, wildlife, industrial design and the Japanese wabisabi aesthetic are a few of the things which inspire her range of pottery.
Julia Smith House & Trees Utensil Pot ceramic 15(h) X 13(w) cm
Julia Smith From left to right: Small Clock, ceramic, 13(d) cm Mantle Clock, ceramic, 20(h) X 15(w) cm
Julia Smith Above: Selection of Espresso Mugs, ceramic, 8(h) X 10(w) cm Below: Selection of Puffin Mugs, ceramic, 8(h) X 14(w) cm
Julia Smith
Selection of Coasters, ceramic, 11(d) cm
Julia Smith Detail of Flowers Fruit Bowl creamic 9(h) X 30(d) cm
Julia Smith Swallow & Forest Bowl ceramic 8(h) X 22(w) cm
Back Page: Michael Lythgoe Detail of Bewick’s Swans in Flight painted wood 30.5(h) X 86(w) cm
Carter, Aird, Lythgoe & Smith 6th - 27th June 2015 Castle Gallery, 43 Castle St, Inverness, IV2 3DU www.castlegallery.co.uk 01463 729512