Burrs 2012 Day 2

This was the first day with the participants. Most people had arrived on the Friday evening and gone for a drink and some food just across the road in the pub. Some chose to get stuck into trees straight away. There was a real buzz around the place on Friday night and most people stayed up into the early hours and talked trees and told stories.
   So to Saturday morning and freshened up with numerous cups of tea and Bacon butties, it was time to start. First off was the introductions from Tony with regards to the artists working this weekend.
(Left to right) Tony Tickle, Hans van Meer, Will Baddeley, Pavel Slovak, Enrico Savini and Terry Foster.

Each artist was asked to talk about one particular tree that was to be worked on that weekend. Because I like to work with deciduous trees and have a fondness for English Elm (Ulmus minor), I chose a raft to talk about and style. I will show the trees as before and after pics otherwise it becomes a bit muddled.

After discussing the tree with the group it was time for the trees owner to wire it in preparation for styling.

I was so busy carving over the two days that on Saturday night I stayed up all night to get some jobs done. Aided by some very good Whisky  Apart from helping Mikey P with his trees, I styled the tree that night.

There were lots more people this year and a greater number of countries involved. This tree belonged to Miroslav K who is originally from Slovakia and now lives in Norfolk. All participants were extremely enthusiastic. Yew (Taxus baccata)

Enrico worked on the tree with Miroslav.

Was a great chance to sit and chat with Smithy. I have bumped into him at many shows but have never had the chance to really talk. Burrs changed all that. Smithy bought some really promising material with him too.
Neil chatting with Chris T

                                           Smithy's large Escalonia was cut back to bare bones

Other participants added their opinions too. Danny offering advice.

Pavel worked on his Larch.

The result

Smithy's Privet (Ligustrum) needed some carving........

The top was given taper and more movement and a hollow was created at the base. Detai was difficult as the wood was still green and needs some time to season.

Jerry's Yew.

Bought from Tony a few years ago and now ready to work for the first time.

We discussed a front for this tree as it has many live veins.

Enrico liked the front but changed the orientation by quite a bit.

Ofer from Israel working tirelessly on the wiring.

The tree on Saturday night and nearly finished

And on Sunday morning.....I wondered how this tree could work at this angle but it turns out it will be going into an Eric Krizovensky  pot.....

A Mugo Pone belonging to Erik Krizovenski.

Ofer offering some ideas.

This tree will also go into one of Erics superb cement pots. Eric made a presentation on the Friday night showing how they are made to look like stone. Difficult planting angles are now a thing of the past.

Eric's presentation. Translation by Pavel's son Jakub

The size of some of these pots!!!

Some of the techniques for colour and texture.

Did I mention how big?

Beautiful sketches too

Some more from Saturday night and Sunday to follow.......