Next stage of the ‘Hart of the Woods’ Red Deer Headdress. Clay design complete, now mould making.
Many thanks to Richard Frost for documentary photographs and filming in the morning and then to Amira, Diane and Manuela from Nottingham Trent University for filming and interviewing in the afternoon. An excellent way to spend a Saturday.
I have just found this tiny pot which I made in about 1976 as a student. Probably the best thing I created at that time as it holds much of what still concerns me in current drawing projects. The Square, The Circle and a playful response to the world I live in.
What I like most of all is its ‘pot-ness’ whilst at the same time its ‘bird-ness’. I remember that I had seen an image of some ancient clay toys, which inspired the painting scheme. Hand-built porcelain at just 6 c.m tall, with brushwork in iron oxide. This bird with four legs still makes me chuckle.
My current work still has the same archeological connections as I continue to ponder on the ancient impulse to ‘make’. I am still obsessing with geometry in conjunction with natural forms. My choice of materials is still governed by a perception of ancestral connections. Clay, minerals, charcoal. The sense of touch is still as important in 2D work.
Making a mask / head-dress for ‘Hart of the Wood’ . This is to be a stags head with intimations of Green Man.
Film making in collaboration with ‘Artdocs’.
All will be revealed in due course.
Today I have been looking at Gaps between Trees.
Pine, Beech Birch, Ash
And my dear friend the Oak Tree in my local Park.
Dark Day. Looking forwards to more light
Catching up with the Drawings after a couple of weeks of inertia and poor health.
Good to be back in the studio. Although I did very little, what was done was significant and made for progress. I have used direct mark making, random accidents and finding something which I find awkward, giving both discomfiture and disruption of habits.
This week I have mainly been building a ship.
1620 ‘Caravel’ Merchant Vessel
Struggling to find a title for this. It is inspired by and referencing William Blake, also by Duncan Grant and some of my own paintings from the 1980’s when I was living in France. Still being part of my meditation on this ageing process upon myself as a ‘gay’ person making art.
In the last month I have bought two pieces of art.
The first being a ceramic mask from Graham Underhill. The Willoughby Memorial Trust Gallery, Corbyb Glen Lincolnshire
The Second work of textile art from Kashif Nadim Chaudry. Primary: Nottingham Studios. 
Looks like it takes me three months to reach an end point to these large drawings, can’t say finished but to arrive at a stage of partial satisfaction. 
This is now Vitruvian Man at 3 months. Smaller drawing continue to develop the theme.
Studio 
And Detail 
Stephen Jon Mask 