Jonathan Hateley Sculpture: 365 Day 77

Sculpting in a Barn on a Farm.

Sculpting in a Barn on a Farm.

Hello and welcome to my Blog. My name is Jonathan Hateley and I am a sculptor. I have sculpted for many years in TV, film and theatre, mainly at model-making and effects companies as well four years at the English National Opera. Now though, most of my time is spent in a Barn on a Farm creating sculptures I choose to create and revealing them to the public through art galleries and exhibitions. My work is generally representational, both of the human figure, wildlife and other aspects of nature, though these can often be the basis for abstract shapes. My work is in constant development.

I hope my blog will give some insight into life as a sculptor, or at least my life as a sculptor, and create an interest in the work I produce. You can see my main website at: www.jonathanhateley.com

My current main project is '365' which involves sculpting 365 small bas-relief sculptures, one each day, all of which will be placed on one larger sculpture. It is all based on nature throughout the year. You can read more in my Day 1 intro

Also, click here to get a different view!

Saturday, 19 March 2011

365 Day 77

On the same walk, in the village of Bilbrook, near Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, I came across some more ‘pods’. It was a welcome relief, just when I thought I had seen most of the seed pods there were to see and inspiration was dwindling again. The strange thing about these though, was that they were growing, in numbers, on an oak tree. I thought the only thing to grow like this on an oak was an acorn, yet here they were. They weren’t particularly attractive things, but through the project (and I guess life in general) I am drawn to anything with nice curves and forms. These were basically spherical and with little holes here and there. I took a few home as well as photos and began my research.

It turned out that they were galls. A moment of great satisfaction came when my strange findings corresponded with my friend’s. A gall is made by a tiny wasp, mostly black or reddish brown in colour and develops around the females egg to protect the larva. They don’t harm the oak, though I hope nothing is going to suddenly come out of the one I have in my house!

Please see 365 intro for more information about the project.