John Adamson- Tree Sculptor

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Mother and Children 

This was a private commission and the client wanted a chainsaw carving of her two children, aged two and five. I was to supply the wood and I found a suitable tree being cut down at the Alternative Technology Centre in Hebden Bridge. The log was approximately 2ft. diameter at the base and 3ft. high, and had a main trunk that split into three branches.

I normally take my inspiration from the form of the log, and could see that it was exactly right for the work, if I included the mother in the composition. I offered to carve a three figures for the price of two, and the client accepted. My aim was to produce a carving of almost life size figures that had movement and visual interest. One branch curved inwards and suggested a close relationship between mother and child. The other two branches had a natural outward curve that suggested a straining away that one often gets when trying to hold a two year old.

` Due to the relative size of the carving and the cutting edge of a chainsaw, a realistic representation of facial features was not possible. Chainsaws were used for the most of the carving and the whole sculpture was treated with preservative.

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