Andy Goldsworthy |
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Andy Goldsworthy was born on the 26 July 1956. He is a British sculptor, photographer and environmentalist producing art and sculpture situated in natural and urban settings. He lives and works in Scotland.
His father was professor of applied maths at the University of Leeds and Andy Goldsworthy grew up on the Harrogate side of Leeds near open countryside. From the age of 13 he worked on farms as a labourer. He has likened the repetitive quality of farm tasks to the routine of making sculpture: "A lot of my work is like picking potatoes; you have to get into the rhythm of it."
Goldsworth studied fine art at Bradford College of Art (1974–1975) and at Preston Polytechnic (1975–1978).After leaving college, Goldsworthy lived in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria. In 1985, he moved to Langholm in Dumfries and Galloway, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and a year later to Penpont. It has been said that his gradual drift northwards was "due to a way of life over which he did not have complete control", but that contributing factors were opportunities and desires to work in these areas and "reasons of economy".
The materials used in Andy Goldsworthy's art often include brightly coloured flowers, icicles, leaves, mud, pinecones, snow, stone, twigs, and thorns. He has been quoted as saying, "I think it's incredibly brave to be working with flowers and leaves and petals. But I have to: I can't edit the materials I work with. My remit is to work with nature as a whole."[9] Goldsworthy is generally considered the founder of modern rock balancing. For his ephemeral works, Goldsworthy often uses only his bare hands, teeth, and found tools to prepare and arrange the materials; however, for his permanent sculptures like "Roof", "Stone River" and "Three Cairns", "Moonlit Path" (Petworth, West Sussex, 2002) and "Chalk Stones" in the South Downs, near West Dean, West Sussex he has also employed the use of machine tools. To create "Roof", Goldsworthy worked with his assistant and five British dry-stone wallers, who were used to make sure the structure could withstand time and nature.
His father was professor of applied maths at the University of Leeds and Andy Goldsworthy grew up on the Harrogate side of Leeds near open countryside. From the age of 13 he worked on farms as a labourer. He has likened the repetitive quality of farm tasks to the routine of making sculpture: "A lot of my work is like picking potatoes; you have to get into the rhythm of it."
Goldsworth studied fine art at Bradford College of Art (1974–1975) and at Preston Polytechnic (1975–1978).After leaving college, Goldsworthy lived in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria. In 1985, he moved to Langholm in Dumfries and Galloway, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and a year later to Penpont. It has been said that his gradual drift northwards was "due to a way of life over which he did not have complete control", but that contributing factors were opportunities and desires to work in these areas and "reasons of economy".
The materials used in Andy Goldsworthy's art often include brightly coloured flowers, icicles, leaves, mud, pinecones, snow, stone, twigs, and thorns. He has been quoted as saying, "I think it's incredibly brave to be working with flowers and leaves and petals. But I have to: I can't edit the materials I work with. My remit is to work with nature as a whole."[9] Goldsworthy is generally considered the founder of modern rock balancing. For his ephemeral works, Goldsworthy often uses only his bare hands, teeth, and found tools to prepare and arrange the materials; however, for his permanent sculptures like "Roof", "Stone River" and "Three Cairns", "Moonlit Path" (Petworth, West Sussex, 2002) and "Chalk Stones" in the South Downs, near West Dean, West Sussex he has also employed the use of machine tools. To create "Roof", Goldsworthy worked with his assistant and five British dry-stone wallers, who were used to make sure the structure could withstand time and nature.
Examples of his work
My Goldsworthy inspired Photograph
Andy Goldsworthy creates sculptures out of completely natural materials such as branches, ice and leaves. I created my sculpture at the beginning of autumn so ice was not an option. I decided to make my Goldsworthy-style sculpture out of leaves as at this time of year they would give me good contrast against the bright green grass with their range of colours.
To see how the picture was created. click here.
I have created an image of growth and renewal. The circle of dead leaves rests on a bright green carpet of vigorously growing, clover filled grass, which recedes into duller older foliage. The picture is a bit surreal; - it looks natural , but has been created by me as a work of art. It almost looks as if it could have been created by nature, but the yellow flowers in the middle confirm it is a construct. I have enhanced the saturation and contrast to create a more vivid effect. It looks like a sort of 'hyper' version of nature, which is the effect I was looking for
To see how the picture was created. click here.
I have created an image of growth and renewal. The circle of dead leaves rests on a bright green carpet of vigorously growing, clover filled grass, which recedes into duller older foliage. The picture is a bit surreal; - it looks natural , but has been created by me as a work of art. It almost looks as if it could have been created by nature, but the yellow flowers in the middle confirm it is a construct. I have enhanced the saturation and contrast to create a more vivid effect. It looks like a sort of 'hyper' version of nature, which is the effect I was looking for