St. Marys' Memorial Fixing

Hurrah!

Taken some time to sit down and write this, but here's a record of a very successful visit to St. Marys' church in north London. A beautiful Victorian brick structure in a wonderful state of preservation. Loved it as soon as I saw it, an airy space laden with a sparse, precious spirituality. The large icon above the chancel struck me dumb as the afternoon light shone over the image of Christ.

Aside from my goggling at the building we also had some fixing to do. The memorial was not as heavy as some we've been asked for, but due to the pronounced tripartite shape was somewhat more delicate, and delicately handling a stone plaque is an exercise in both endurance and patience. This however made eventual success all the more rewarding. My thanks to the kind clergy, trust members and caretakers who recieved and looked after us so warmly. Pictures to follow!

S

Pit stop!

Boss making some adjustments

Beautiful St. Marys'

Small Boulder Monument

Note: The designs of all work shown here are the property of their creator. I'm doing the lettercutting to his specifications.

As soon as I was welcomed into the workshop I was given tasks to do, to both test my own proficiency and give me an idea of the differences between the focussed lettering work and my own experience. Immediately I was enjoying myself. Being able to focus entirely on making a letter breathe, give it a life and potency all of its own, was something entirely enthralling. Fighting the stone in order to work something fine and delicate within an unyielding and rebellious surface, and leaving within the letter an even pattern of crisp, clear tooling, even within the finest lines.

All of these things are but a small portion of the pleasures of lettercutting, and the more mason-like work of cutting out the shapes of the headstones is yet another world of enjoyment. Although my current skills are still quite fresh, I already have some ideas for the kind of monuments I want to create in the future. When I began learning the craft I had to do things according to the proscribed method, as everyone does and indeed -must- if they are to get anywhere. But gradually one begins to adapt these things, and so adapt ones own body and working methods to the material. In this way perhaps the stone wins the battle. But I digress. As time goes by, I find myself liberated by this work. One is forced to consider oneself in relation to the work, and gradually you begin to impose your own will on the world around you, as you do with your stone. You start building yourself up, as you build monuments.

Still getting the hang of writing a blog, and I've a tendency towards over-voluminious writing. Will sort it out eventually.

S

A first post and a thank you.

Welcome one and all.

It's taken me some time to begin figuring out exactly why I love stone. I can't be complacent, at any point. Stone fights back every step of the way. Nothing is easy, only slightly less difficult as time goes by. It's recalcitrant, truculent, irritable and dissembling, every bit of it.

I love stone because of these things. Every success however small has to be earned.

I shall be making regular posts as time goes by, my career (hopefully!) advances and my works increase.

My sincere, heartfelt thanks to the good people of the Lettering Arts Trust who have put their faith in me, and to the others to have done the same in teaching and training me. I won't let you down.

S