{"id":2008,"date":"2012-03-22T13:16:36","date_gmt":"2012-03-22T13:16:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kirkd.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2008"},"modified":"2025-08-04T14:49:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T13:49:11","slug":"weapons-of-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kirkd.co.uk\/blog\/weapons-of-choice\/","title":{"rendered":"Weapons of choice"},"content":{"rendered":"

The little chaps coming along well.
\n\"Cthulhu
\nAs I’ve had a couple of questions about my work I thought I’d share a photo of the tools I’m using at the moment for my sculpture. I’m mainly using these four even though I’ve a big selection of them that I’ve collected over the years.<\/p>\n

From left to right they are:
\n\"\"<\/a>– A flat blade with a curve to the tip for smoothing out flat areas and on the other end is a rounded halfball for small depressions
\n– A wooden tool with a shallow bend at one end and a thicker bit to the other end
\n– A sharp edged scraping tool useful for removing material smoothly with a flat end the other side. I have to say I don’t use the lower end much
\n– A home made tool which is a brass tube with a piece of wire held in place with a bit of Milliput and the wire is hammered flat like a screwdriver end. This tool has been invaluable for making the wrinkles around the eyes and hands<\/p>\n

My other tools include a number of home made ones, shop bought and some dental tools that a very kind dentist gave to me years ago. I was given about a dozen in total as he said he can only use them for a short time before they have to be replaced so rather than chuck them away he donated them to my worthy cause. As a number of them turned out to be the same I traded a few for bits (students work well on barter systems), some I modified to different shapes by hammering or grinding them while the rest are perfectly good tools that I still have the pleasure to own. Over the years I’ve collected quite a few bits with weird and wonderful (if sharp) edges but there always seems to be a basic few I reach for when starting something.<\/p>\n

On a related note, HP Lovecraft appears in an article on the BBC site<\/a> which talks about the recent anniversary of his death. While Cthulhu is obviously one of his most recognisable creations, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Deep Ones. ‘Shadow over Innsmouth’ is my favourite story of his and on a more recent reading I couldn’t help but snigger at a reference to Ipswich (even if it is the one in the USA). While at college I once tried to sculpt a deep one but gave up after struggling with the basic shape, maybe it’s about time I tried again.<\/p>\n

Days cycled to work: 55
\nDays driven all the way to work: 0
\nDays driven half way to drop the car off at the garage to have a service: 1
\nDays tramped along in snow and ice: 2<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The little chaps coming along well. 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