Commission Story — Basset Hounds
A pair of Basset Hounds
Some commissions are particularly special because they are so closely woven into the lives of the people who commission them.
I was asked to carve a pair of Basset Hounds in Yorkstone, a celebration of two very much loved companions. Dogs play such an important part in our lives and the sculpture would capture something of the relationship they shared - not simply what the dogs looked like, but the character and companionship they brought to the home.
The pose was important.
One Basset lies comfortably with hind legs stretched out behind him, relaxed and completely at ease. Beside him, the second sits close, quietly keeping company. There is something wonderfully familiar about the arrangement - the unspoken closeness of two dogs who are accustomed to being together.
I spent time studying the particular characteristics of Basset Hounds: their long, low bodies, heavy ears, soft folds and wonderfully noble and expressive faces. But as with all my animal carvings, I wanted to go beyond anatomy. The challenge was to capture the personality and the relationship between them, so that the finished piece would feel like a true reflection of the dogs that were so loved.
Yorkstone with its natural warmth and subtle variation gives the carving a softness and depth, while its strength makes it beautifully suited to becoming a lasting part of the garden.
As the sculpture took shape, the two dogs began to feel less like separate figures and more like a pair. The closeness of them became the heart of the piece.
For their owners it was about celebrating this closeness. In time a reminder of muddy walks, familiar routines, companionship and the quiet presence of dogs around the home. A piece that would sit in the garden and continue to bring a sense of those much-loved characters into every-day life.
I find this such a rewarding part about commissioned work. When someone asks me to carve something that matters deeply to them, the finished piece becomes something lasting - a tangible expression of love and a permanent part of the place they call home.
The dogs may no longer be padding around the garden, but in their carved form, they can still be there together - one stretched out in complete contentment, the other sitting faithfully at his side.
