With all this talk of bone collecting I decided to feature the work of one of our local but internationally acclaimed sculptors, Carl Roberts.
His work is brilliant and though he carves in wood a lot of the time he also carves wonderfully whimsical pieces from found bones such as the scapula of an elephant or buffalo, the pelvis or humerus of a giraffe, the mandible of a hippo or the vertebra of a whale.
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The shape dictates what he will carve. A scapula, for example, lends itself to carving trees with lattice type branches, sometimes housing baboons, leopards, owls or .....a man.
"Like the Rorschach (ink blot) test, the material often suggests images and sometimes presents them in an unusual way. " says Roberts.
"I work like the automatic artists of the Surrealist movement in that I trust my subconscious to generate ideas."
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"The image made depends ultimately upon what lies in the subconscious, elements of chance and the spirit of the times." - Carl Roberts
The Stormbringer by Carl Roberts. All photos from the Carl Roberts website.
this is sublime.
ReplyDeletethank you yet again for the introduction to another great artist.
My pleasure Priya. I love introducing artists from my country....and any country in fact.
ReplyDeleteCarl's work is so beautiful. What a gifted artist.
ReplyDeleteChris, his wooden pieces are so beautiful too especially the figures he has created from tangled roots. Unfortunately I couldn't enlarge the tiny photographs of my favourite pieces but you should be able to see some of them on his site.
ReplyDeleteAs usual, the art and artists you introduce me to is stunning. I just love your blog.
ReplyDelete*Gasp!* My chin just hit the floor. This guy is AMAZING!!
ReplyDeleteThanks again, Robin ... I am soooo loving Carl's pices ... so much so that I can't even pretend to pick a favorite as all of them speak to me. :)
ReplyDeleteRobyn,
ReplyDeleteCarl's work is magical. I like the fact he carves 'found objects'...and works with the shape, as opposed to against it!
Look forward to visiting his his website.
My father being the collector of
50+ years, has some amazing carved bone pieces...As a child I remember him showing me a huge bladed sword...from a Sumatran 'cannibal' tribe...the handle being carved 'human' bone, with tightly wound dyed human hair on it!!!! Oh my gosh...it still sends chills up my spine...40 years later! Not sure wether it's still in his possession...don't really want to know!!!
Yes, those "bonegirls" have me thinking too! :)
oh. my. god.
ReplyDeletei am having no words right now... none. except 'thank you'...
xxxooo
Thank Stevie, your quirky doodles keep me returning to your blog. I don't think you realize just how wonderful they are.
ReplyDeleteShayla, when you lift your chin up off the floor go look at the other work on his site.
3rdeyemuse, I have his book and the sculpture in there is phenomenal.
Jo, the thought of carved human bones gives me the creeps too but found animal bones carved and polished to a smooth sheen....now thats another dtory.
Lynne, thought you might like them :-)
WOW.
ReplyDeletethe stormbringer is my favourite... what flowing organic lines.. yummy soul food
ReplyDeleteHow very cool! I suddenly am finding bone references everywhere, after just posting a bone related work myself today - I love the synchronicity! These pieces are beautiful, full of grace and power. Glad to have found you,
ReplyDeleteKarin
I love them! Especially the owl!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Queencraftygirl
What an amazing eye he has.
ReplyDeleteWow - these are fantastic! I'm really impressed with the fact that these are made from found bones and he is guided by the shape of the object itself. Wonderful! Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteits stunning, as it opens, my breath was linked, he's doing something from a genuine place; i can't imagine what happens when you all are collecting the bones--there is a life to it... something must be in it of the lasting
ReplyDeletethanks again
HHMN, indeed!
ReplyDeletegrrl+dog, he has managed to convey the softness of the robe so well too.
Karin, yes what is it with all these bone references.
Queen Crafty, I thought you might like the owl!
Pamela, spectacular pieces aren't they.
Bindu, In the book I have you can see found wood and bones stacked high in Carl's back yard.
Mansuetude, don't you just want to feel the silkiness of the polished bone?
Absolutely sublime work...that octopus in particular is quite lovely!
ReplyDeleteRobyn, your comment might be the nicest thing anyone has said to me since I began blogging. I have tears in my eyes. I am genuinely touched by your kindness. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWow, thank you for sharing, wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWhat gorgeous work! I especially love the first piece. It is as though the figure is a spark, darting from the fire! Roxanne
ReplyDeleteI love that octopus or squid or whatever it is! Marvellous.
ReplyDeletehmmmmm - okay, so I'm looking at bones maybe in a new way.....
ReplyDeleteHey Robyn,
ReplyDeleteI finished my Crow Costume! Its on my blog!
Love,
Queeny
Hey Robyn,
ReplyDeleteYou always bring the most wonderful artists out for us to see. Of course the carving draws me but the form and the delicateness is so enticing. Makes you want to touch them but very lightly. Beautiful.
I had never heard of Carl Roberts nor seen ay of his work. It is tremendous - what talent - thank you so much for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteAmazing as usual. I suppose Africa's wildlife lends itself more to more interesting bones, however. Around here you'd just get cows.
ReplyDeleteCynjon, glad you like Carl's work. I don't know why it took me so long to write a post about him.
ReplyDeleteStevie, I'm amazed that you are not showered with compliments because your work is really awesome.
Weaver, glad you like it.
Heather, I'm sure cow bones would have the same effect. The right size too.
Leanne...and don't you love the sheen?
Roxanne, I love that! A spark darting from the fire....I'm looking at the piece in a different way now.
Jeane, less creepy?
oh my! What exquisite boney eye candy! Thank you robyn ... One of the bonegrrl xoxo
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful artist! I also loved reading what he says about his work. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for introducing us to this wonderful artist, Carl Roberts. His work is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI have often wondered what your bonegrrls do with your bones.... now I know!!!
Can I ask what type of tools do you actually use to carve bone?
Jacky, I don't think the bonegrrls carve the bones. Artist, Jen Worden incorporates them into her assemblages. I'm not sure what the other bone girls actually do with them. There's been a lot of too-ing and fro-ing, swapping packages and oohing and aahing.
ReplyDeleteKarine, I like the thought of ones subconscious generating ideas.
Jen, I thought you would enjoy these pieces!
Thanks for your reply above Robyn...just had to say I love what you have done with the bones within the heart in your totem piece in your latest post.
ReplyDeleteGood to see you grrrls using dem bones!