One of the astonishing facts about Philip Jackson is that he never makes any preliminary drawings. Instead he makes between six to eight little models in wax until one stands out, after which he creates a more detailed maquette as the basis for a sculpture.
Large sculptures are supported by carefully-thought-out armatures in welded steel, built to withstand vast amounts of clay. Sometimes creative thinking also comes into play - one example was when the large boots of the Bomber crew had to be cast and replaced in the sculptures to solve the problem of the clay drying up.
The talk lasted for at least an hour. Then we proceeded to the beautifully landscaped garden for refreshments. To our delight we found a number of his large works still on display after a fund-raising open garden event which was held over the weekend.
These large pieces are very different from what we’ve seen in the slideshow accompanying his talk.
They were very expressive in a different way, more suggestive, possibly dramatic. This is because he uses the hands, clothing and limbs to convey emotions. Some of the faces of the sculptures are featureless, most of them are masked – inspired by the art of Canaletto and others who depicted the masked figures of Venice.
Refreshments – delicious cakes and beverages – were served by Jean, Philip’s wife, and James, their son. We are grateful for their warm hospitality and the opportunity to learn more about Philip Jackson and his work.
Our thanks go to Janet Morton for arranging the Studio Visit and Talk.
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Bomber Command by Philip Jackson photo from www.philipjacksonsculptures.co.uk