My work begins each time with a road trip to outlying stone quarries. They have a very diverse range of local and imported stones which are constantly changing depending on availability. I have no preconceived ideas about the type of stones I will find or which path it will take me. I can always expect to discover different types of stone that I have not seen before. Through their shapes and details, each stone has its own unique elements and characteristics. It is always exciting to return home and wash the stones to reveal the intricacies in their texture, colour and patterns.
These stones are then placed in and around my working and living spaces. As I walk pass them regularly throughout the day, I will rotate them in a different orientation to change the perspective of the stone. Each stone attracts many ideas pertaining to the lettering style, layout or lyrics that I might carve.
Once the handwritten design has been finalised, the process of carving each letter with a hammer and chisel begins. It is time consuming but the results yield greater detail and superior control of the hand-crafted letterforms.
Often the aesthetics of my lettering progresses past the point of being instantly legible, some might say it is just stopping short of illegibility. It is thought-provoking to explore this at a time of instant gratification and shortened attention spans.
I hope I am giving the viewer an opportunity to slow their mind and be drawn into the beauty of the stone, whilst deciphering the letters and words to reveal the essence of the message. Subsequently, the details of the lettering will reveal itself easier as the viewer’s creative eye develops.
