BEAUTY: Sculpture--Kevin Francis Gray

I last posted about the marvelous work of sculptor Kevin Francis Gray a dozen years ago and his work since then has become amazingly abstract and gestural. After mastering figures draped in silky, diaphanous material (seen here), he is now taking the texture and silhouette of raw clay, especially the way it moves, and rendering those figures in marble. His Picasso-esque Family Series and Gestural Series stands out.

https://www.kevinfrancisgray.com/

The York Ghost Merchants

For Halloween, I would love one of these delightful, little handmade ghosts from York, England. Alas, The York Ghost Merchants make them in small batches, released only a few times a year. I need to keep an eye out and catch one the next time they are released.

Their website offers a delightful summary:

Welcome to the Ghost Merchants
The ancient city of York has a reputation for being the most haunted city in Europe, perhaps even the world. There is rich tradition here of ghost story-telling which stretches back for many centuries. Ghosts are an integral although undeniably obscure part of our city’s story. York Ghosts are firmly embedded in this history.

Each York Ghost is handmade in our own workshops, combining the best of British materials with the sagacity and resource of generations of Guild craftsmen and women.

Our business follows the traditions imposed by The Sorrowful Guild of Master Ghost Makers. We adhere to traditional values and methods, our ghosts are always made by hand and the techniques that we use ensure that each York Ghost is a true original, complete with an embossed maker’s mark.

York Ghosts are individually packaged in exquisite travelling boxes featuring a hand drawn Ghost Merchants shop, to make the ghost feel at home on its journey from the Shambles to far away places. The Original York Ghost is wrapped in an 1852 map of York, and our Little York Ghost comes in the “Boo” box with oval gilt edged viewing aperture.

Our ghosts are made by hand in small batches and we do not operate a mass production business model. Our shop at No.6 Shambles is open 6 days a week and has over 600 Ghosts to choose from. Our second location ‘The Dispensary’ in St Anthony’s Garden opened in 2023 and stocks Original Ghosts, Little Ghosts and Phantoms.

Every ghost is unique, “with a spirit all its own”

Our one concern is your delight.

Black and White Sweep Ghosts

Black Friday Barnardo's Ghosts

Black Kraken Ghost

Solid hand-cast Bronze Ghost

The Comtesse

Crazed Grey Ghost

Drapery Misses

Firebrick Sweep Ghost

Grey Lady Ghosts

Jubbergate Huckster

Lost Woodland Ghosts

Ghosts created for release in March 2021

Mythe Ghost

Ghost in Oxidized Iron

Poison Garden Ghosts

Hand-cast Polished Aluminum Ghosts

Winter Green Ghosts

Website:
https://www.yorkghostmerchants.com/

And if you don't live in or near enough to York to get a ghost of your very own, keep an eye on their Instagram account for information regarding releases of new ghost batches!
https://www.instagram.com/yorkghostmerchants/

BEAUTY: Sculpture--Lesley Barnes

These whimsical painted figures by illustrator Lesley Barnes are absolutely charming and remind me of Alexander Girard's 1963 collection of painted dolls previously seen here.

https://www.instagram.com/lesley_barnes
https://www.lesleybarnes.co.uk/
https://bauhausballet.bigcartel.com/

BEAUTY: Ceramics--Sophie Woodrow

English ceramic artist Sophie Woodrow creates gorgeous little dream figures who remind me so much of the nature and animal spirits from Miyazaki films like "Spirited Away." Each one is an intrigue, but as a group, they have great impact. Together, they look like they just stepped from the other side and are waiting with curiosity, ready to interact, to help...

http://sophiewoodrow.co.uk/