Richard Kennedy
All photos courtesy of the artist
Working with nature rather than against it, flowing line, form and proportion are paramount to my design. Inspired by the simplest of things, the shape of the shoreline or a weathered rock, everything has a line that can be used.
I create ornamental pieces using mainly British hardwood from environmentally sound suppliers, windblown and drift wood when available. I focus on simple shapes for clean modern tactile pieces. Working with wood is a privilege and something I find hugely satisfying. When creating a piece I find that a compromise needs to be struck between the artist and the raw material. I have sold pieces all over the world but have settled in Argyll to work, influenced by its dramatic scenery and raw beauty.
The pierced work stems from a trip I took to Southern Spain, to the ancient Mesquite in Cordoba. An amazing example of Moorish Architecture, I was inspired by the patterns, in the architecture, the decoration and by the intricate windows, a myriad of stars and shapes that cast incredible shadows deep into the interior of the building.
I am also fascinated by light. From the science of photons to the beauty of shadows, light is a beguiling subject. Working with light provides another dimension to these pieces as the shadows they cast add drama to the work. There is as much detail in what is missing.
I combine thin walled turning and add painstaking precise piercing. Piercing is done freehand using a tiny milling burr, care has to be taken to group the holes tightly together and because of this, the process takes the majority of the time. It is imperative that the original bowl is perfect in terms of its wall thickness and that the design is carefully plotted.
Works
