Fun, Factual, Weird, and Breathtaking: sculptor

Friday, August 9, 2019

Tommy Craggs Artist/Wood Sculptor of Dead Trees

Castle Dragons
Visit this link to view all sides of Castle Dragons.

During 2012, sophisticated sculptures were discovered in a wooded area around Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, UK, but the creator of these unsigned massive works remained a mystery. After a visit by the BBC to the owner of the publically-accessible private property where the statues were in residence, it was discovered that the works had been commissioned from Tommy Craggs, and the mystery was solved.

King Hollow of The Abbey Road, Knaresborough

Tommy Craggs, an award winning artist/sculptor is based in Consett, Co Durham, UK. His passion comes to life when creating sculptures and giving a second life to the trees he uses.

Photo: Laughing Squid via Ross Parry Agency

Previously working as a tree feller, Tommy not only honed his skills but has now transformed his chainsaw proficiency into the magical creation of animals, mystical creatures, and figurative works of art via sculpting.

Primrose Faerie

“I like to see what I do as a way of bringing the trees back to life, and I work against the grains to reveal the real beauty of the wood.” *

Photo: Facebook (Tommy Craggs)

Using a chainsaw, the elaborate sculptures Tommy creates are all carved from naturally fallen trees or ones which have either become diseased or dangerous.

Mermaid in Progress

Some of the trees used for carving are from wood which originated in a sustainable managed forest.

Tree of Life, Dublin
Photo: Chris Cullen

Tommy Craggs, a self-taught chainsaw artist whose carving imparts new birth to once living trees, is now an international award winning artist and sculptor.

Central Scrutinizer

Stolen Soul

Visit the links below to view many more of the incredible tree sculptures by Tommy Craggs.

Sources:

Photos, except where otherwise noted, are used with the permission of the artist.

* (Hosmer, Katie. {February 2012}. Unbelievably Mysterious Tree Sculptures. Retrieved August 9, 2019, from https://mymodernmet.com/tommy-craggs-guerilla-tree-sculptor/)

Monday, July 22, 2019

Contemporary Italian Sculptor, Paola Grizi

Mentored by her grandfather, both a famous Italian painter and sculptor while growing up and earning a degree in Italian Literature with first-class honors, Paola Grizi now combines into many of her sculptures the faces which might emerge from the written word.

Looking Ahead - Bronze (Casart, Paris)
Photo: Paola Grizi by Jose D. Gutierrez Gamarra

Paola’s award-winning sculptures have been featured throughout Italy in exhibits including Rome, Faenza, Venice, Florence, Milan, Pisa, and Ferrara.

Face To Leaf Through 2014 - Terracotta
Ascoli Pieceno Ceramics Museum
Photo: Paola Grizi

The movement represented within the sculpture itself delivers life to the materializing face on its quest to a new awakening.

Composition 2017 - Bronze (Casart, Paris)
Photo: Paola Grizi

Her instinctive manipulation of the medium with which she works, builds and imparts the arrival and emotion of the being within.

The Agreement 2017 - Terracotta
Photo: Paola Grizi

Asked if she had a favorite piece, Paola responded, “Yes, it’s called Ancestral Future: it represents a sleeping newborn that stands on wavy drapes, which follow its shapes. It is one of my favorites, because I feel it is a symbol that links the past and future of humanity, in the common denominator of respect that is due to every fragile and delicate moment of human life, in this case to the nascent life.”

Ancestral Future 2010 - Terracotta
Photo: Paola Grizi

These mysterious sculpted faces in bronze and terracotta appear to emerge from the book’s pages as if awakened to pursue a new quest for understanding, consciousness, and knowledge.

The Breath 2017 - Bronze (Casart, Paris)
Photo: Paola Grizi

In an interview with Jessica Stewart from My Modern Net, Paola says, “I hope that whoever looks at my work doesn’t remain unmoved by what they see. I’d like for the emotion and experience generated by a sculpture to move through the artwork, arriving straight to the heart and sensibility of the viewer. And, if possible, to bring forward its meaning, also taking in what’s given by the spectator, in order to generate a continuum that, over time, is enriched by the profound emotions and humanity of everyone.”