The Night Watchman

'The Night Watchman' was a collaborative work commissioned by the artist Terry Scales. Based on a painting from the 1950's the original piece had a colourful life being stolen whilst being exhibited at Sweetwaters Fine Art in W1 (you can read more about this here). Terry wanted to recreate the mood of the piece but in a different form. Terry gave me a photo from which to scale up the lead lines. I then got out a ranges of glasses based on the original colours and Terry chose the ones he most liked. The glasses were then cut and went to Terry for painting and silver staining, then returned to me for leading and cementing. At 81 years young this is Terry's first stained glass piece...

 

The original painting - if anyone knows the whereabouts of this painting please notify Terry!

 

Up close with the Ancestors of Christ

The stunning Ancestors of Christ exhibition is on until 23rd August at Canterbury Cathedral. Here is a collection of medieval images from the 22 panels on show and more generally from the Cathedral. Originally there were 86 ancestors, combining 77 from Luke's gospel and 8 from Matthew's. 43 of the original ancestors survive in total. Dating stained glass is not easy as carbon dating or material analysis is not a precise tool but combined with stylistic and historical evidence it is estimated that the panels range from circa 1130 to circa 1200. The panels are highly skilled with complex design work and show a beautiful fluidity and range of painting style. The expressions are animated and intense - perhaps the closest we will get to the medieval mind?

 

Abraho

Boaz

The lost hand in this panel reflects the removal of the panels from their original clerestory location and relocation into the late 14th century West Window and the Great South Window. The move resulted in the order of the ancestors being confused, fathers and sons split up and the detailed ornamental borders being removed and hands and feet amputated in order to fit the new surround. 

Enoch

The panels were painted by different artists, their names lost but thought to be French. Some panels are distinctive in their style; Enoch, Methuselah, Adam, Lamech and Noah are thought to be painted by the 'Methuselah Master' who had a sculptural, animated style with a naturalistic feel.

Esrom

Ezechias

Her

Jareth

Jesu

Joseph

Josias

Jude

Lamech

Matusale one of the earliest figures made after the fire of 1174.

Nathan - parts of this panel could predate 1174.

Ragau

 Thare

 

Detail from the Adam Delving panel circa 1176 in the Clerestory window. 

Sue King is all in the pink!

I popped in to see my friend Sue King who has a studio in the same building as me in Cockpit Arts Deptford today. Sue is currently raising funds for Salisbury Hospital Breast Cancer Care Unit and her studio is swimming in pink stars and hearts...

 

 

 

hot off the press!

 

 

These stars and hearts are beautifully packaged and the stars are for sale at £10 each (+£2.50 p&p) with £5 going towards the fund. The hearts are £12 each (+ £2.50 p&p)* with £6 going towards the fund. You can find out more about Sue's fund raising and place your order here http://suekingglass.co.uk/all-in-pink/

 

Below is another project just going into the kiln for Moorfields Eye Hospital

 

 A whirlwind of creativity in SE8!

The excitment of Wimbledon...

is too much for my glassy friend Susie Parkes... strawberries and brightly coloured tennis balls are the order of the day!