Stephen Hitchin – Bridewell

Artist: Stephen Hitchin
Studio: The Bridewell

The role of drawing is vital in the relationship between the initial idea and the block of stone.

As the work is loosened from the block, initial ideas and forms are always confronted by new options, some declined and some taken.

The physical nature of stone, coupled with the reductive process of carving, allows new options to be presented at each phase of the work, allowing new forms to challenge the intended plan.

This decision-making process is the most crucial part of carving. As unconsidered options present themselves, the decision as to which route to follow becomes, increasingly, important to the final outcome.