This girl is something else!

For this, her fourth solo show here, she has produced a stunning body of work in both two and three dimensions. How she does it, I don't know. She may have a nanny at home to look after three small children during the day but the energy required to sustain long days in the studio and the foundry and also bring up a family is tremendous. I know that she does get very tired but this does not in any way affect the work of this highly creative artist.

Her new bronzes vary in scale from a tiny 'Long Tailed Tit' to the wonderfully dynamic 'Barn Owl Taking Flight' and 'Boxing Hares', at over nine feet and eight feet respectively. The owl is magnificent -- we showed the first casting at Henley Festival in July and it was sold on the opening night, the image in the brochure being of the piece in its new surroundings. And I bet you've never before seen a sculpture of boxing hares in quite this position.

The bronze will be ready just before the show but it is interesting to see from the work in progress shot of the original model how Claire fashions the piece. Of course, like many of her pieces, especially the larger ones, it has had to be painstakingly covered in wax to fill in any gaps and then cut into sections before it goes to the foundry for casting. It is a wonderfully dynamic and whimsical sculpture which will command the gallery garden space during the exhibition.

Each of the smaller bronzes is a gem but somehow I am particularly struck by the 'Family Dog' which Claire based on a boxer/pointer cross. There is something 'just right' about it.

On the two dimensional front there is a wide diversity of subject material and I feel that the work is slightly looser than in previous shows. I can't put my finger on it but it is just an impression I have -- you may or may not agree! I love the small charcoal and pastel of 'Hare Resting' -- it's very difficult to get the perspective spot on, as she has done here, in a head-on image like this -- and there is real intent in the eyes of 'Little Owl Taking Flight'. And then there is the charcoal work in progress of 'Three Tigers' -- at 12 feet by 6 feet, just a little too large to get into the gallery -- but what power! (It can be viewed at the studio by anyone with a wall large enough!).

I could write at great length about so many of the pieces in the show but better that you come and see for yourself. Claire is already starting to work for her next show here in spring 2010 when we shall see the likes of the three leaping hares, the tiger and the resting horse which can be seen in the studio shots here.

It's enough to make the mouth water already!

Ian Courcoux

Click here to see details of Claire Norrington's previous show (2006)

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