Feeding The Mind, Solving A Problem and Semi-Abstract with Simon Gudgeon

Today Lucy Branch talks to semi-abstract sculptor, Simon Gudgeon about his incredible large-scale bronzes. Simon Gudgeon is based in Dorset, and he and his wife have shaped the land that they bought to give his semi-abstract sculptures the backdrop that they truly deserve. He manages to fuse figurative sculpture with abstract, landscape with fantasy and otherworldliness. He's the kind of sculptor that surprises you with every new work he does.  Join us and BE INSPIRED BY SCULPTURE.  You can find images of Simon Gudgeon's work and a transcription of the interview at  Sculpture Vulture Blog - SCULPTURE VULTURE If you are looking for a new novel, and you're a lover of adventure and sculpture, you can claim a free book from Sculpture Vulture. This podcast was brought to you by Antique Bronze Snippet from the interview: Lucy I began our conversation today by asking him if he'd always been creative. Simon: I think so. Yes. I mean, as a child, I used to like making things, and that's primarily what I love doing. I mean, I'm a sculptor, yes, but I just love making things. So all the pieces in the sculpture park, pretty well I've made. And that carried through...I mean, I did law at university and actually qualified as a solicitor, but retired the day I qualified because I hated it too much. And from there, I went into landscape gardening, garden design, and gradually became an artist in my 30s, painter initially, and then sculpting when I was 40. So I suppose, yes, pretty well everything I've done has been fairly creative. And even when you do something like the law, you’ve still got to be quite creative. Lucy: Definitely. Just in a different way, perhaps not so much with the physical things. And was it something that you felt was missing from the law? Did you need to do something practical to feel fulfilled as well as sort of mentally creative? Simon: I don't know. I just didn't like it! I mean, I did three years at university, I went to Law College then I did two years’ articles. I did six years in total to qualify. I think one of the problems with law is that you're essentially always dealing with somebody who's got a problem. And people aren't always at their best with the problem. So it just wasn't being a nice environment. Also, I was brought up in the countryside, and being in an office all day really wasn't for me. I didn't like that side at all. Lucy: And so was there anybody at home who had that creative urge as well, that sort of "making things" urge that inspired you? Simon: My grandfather always had a lovely workshop. All his old tobacco tins were painted on the front with all the sizes of screws and nails. And yes, his workshop was wonderful. And he was initially the one who said come into... you know, if we went to stay with him, he would take us into the workshop to make things and show us a little bit. He was mainly woodwork, which I'm not actually. I don't really do much woodwork at all; metal for me now. Lucy: Yes. Well, bronze is such a beautiful material. I'm a little bit biased. But the thing is that I always look at the other materials and think it hasn't got quite such range. Continue with the interview and see images at https://sculpturevulture.co.uk/sculpture-vulture-blog/