I am fascinated by gargoyles. These stone carved medieval creatures grace the upper reaches of cathedrals and churches across Western Europe. They are functional (basically waterspouts), beautifully crafted and each is unique. The variety of strange hybrid animals, humans and demons is enormous, and the reasoning behind their bizarre forms is a mystery. (This is in stark contrast with the iconic, prescribed designs of the religious figures inside the buildings.) But age, weather and climate change is destroying many gargoyles which are literally crumbling to dust. This series is inspired by these glorious creatures.
The wall plaques below were the pre-cursors to my gargoyle collection, made for fun between projects when studying for my HND.
I learned this “wall plaque” technique from the talented James Ort at his gorgeous Phoenix Studios in Oxfordshire.