My work as a stone carver is very much involved in the
process of taking away. The opposite to building up, like clay or
other materials. The physical exercise that is involved, the
challenge, the risks, sometimes even a fight, between the stone and
me, makes you respect the stone.
I let the stone guide me, inspire me, by following its
volume, shape or direction. I don’t let it control me. I am in
charge. It’s not like wood, where the grain of the material has so
much influence it can distract the purpose. The energy created by
this process has a positive reaction on me. I like to show and put
back some of that energy, which shows a certain strength or power,
or pride.
My work is often inspired by the human body. Mostly only that
part that I am emotionally involved with, with the result that part
of the stone stays untouched. It’s important to me to see part of
the raw material and, at the same time, a finished carved surface.
My latest work is pushing this finished surface even further,
trying to manipulate, even distort the material. By squashing a
face, pushing it to one direction. Or looking at organic shapes, and
trying to really understand the form, by going deeper into, trying
to find the life ( energy) inside.
Courses in stone sculpture led by Paulien Gluckman
are held at the Skelton
Workshop