Roe Deer
Roe Deer is the first in the Roe Deer series sculpted in the autumn of 2017, shortly after Holly moved back to Hampshire, as a celebration of the beautiful wildlife that surrounds her studio in the Meon Valley.
The feeling within this piece is soft, feminine, whilst powerfully attentive, as if arrested at the moment just before the deer bounds away after an unexpected rustle in a nearby hedge row, unsure whether to spring and bolt to safety.
“The extension of the neck, large eyes and square pose were deeply considered whilst working on this piece. I focused on these features, not only to sculpt feminine and elegant form, but to create the coiled tension I felt during my encounters with roe deer in that moment before flight.”
Bronze 2017, Limited Edition 12, Size: H:118cm x W:94cm x D:24cm
Roe Deer Buck
This powerful piece was sculpted in clay in the spring of 2018, after the success of the first edition in the Roe Deer series. It was conceived to counterpose the furtive gesture at the point of flight of Roe Deer: - an adult male standing firm and proud as protector of his family, ready to face down any adversary.
Holly uses energetic handling of the clay to reveal her vision in this piece, giving weight to the potent vigour within the character of the buck. The feeling of energy and defiance can be felt most profoundly in the depth of the buck’s direct unyielding intense gaze.
“Whilst working on this piece I considered the masculine nature of the roe deer buck. I love the grandeur the antlers give the animal and in this piece wanted to play with the powerful elements of the roe deer’s nature, rather than their furtive prey-like mannerisms. I wanted this piece to be firmly rooted to the ground; all the energy within the mark making is leaning into the pose.”
Bronze 2019, Limited Edition 12, Size: H:133cm x W:114cm x D:34cm
Roe Deer Looking
Roe Deer Looking was conceived alongside Roe Deer Buck in the spring of 2019. As the third piece in this series, it operates as an extension of the family group - a deer grazing, protected by the Buck, comfortable, nevertheless alert with ears piqued, attentively scanning for danger, while her eyes move to assess the source of a disturbance.
The language employed in this piece is open and immediate, full of energy and vigour, similar to that of the Roe Deer Buck, yet the handling of the clay is soft and somehow more feminine.
“This piece is in a transitional state of being, it is ‘becoming’. I wanted to capture the passage of time just before and after the gesture I have sculpted.
The twist in the pose creates an unbalanced stance, suggesting the movement of the leg. The handling of the clay is loose and less resolved than the others, with large sweeping gestures to emphasise the transitional nature of the pose”
Bronze 2019, Limited Edition 12, Size: H:94cm x W:117cm x D:70cm
