Jeff Soan

Jeff's work reflects equally a love of creatures, great and small, and a love of wood.

His earlier training as an artist and more lately as a toymaker has lead to objects which can be seen as playful sculpture or perhaps sculptural toys but he generally refers to it as Wobbly Wood.    

He tries to express the essential nature of the animals, birds, and fish he creates, sometimes by simplification, sometimes by attention to detail and very often by the sinuous movement achieved with the technique of articulation. A large part of Jeff's work in recent years has been investigating the possibilities of this wobbly wood which is created by cutting the wood into narrow sections and securing it to canvas.    

Jeff utilises the woods natural forms and features; its grain, colour and bark to suggest the creatures shape, markings, feathers and texture. He reduces waste as far as possible, for example the offcut portion of a big fishes tail will form the breast of a bird. This awareness means that while cutting fish he can be thinking bird; one will reshape the other.

Reclaimed wood is used extensively, from discarded furniture, driftwood, industrial pallets and friends and neighbours prunings and it is this found wood that often informs and shapes the work. This constantly varying source of timber helps keep the work fresh and alive.

Contact details:

Address: 94C Manor Avenue, Brockley, London, SE4 1TE

Telephone: 020 8691 1332

Email: jeff@wobblywood.demon.co.uk

Website: www.wobblywood.co.uk