Mark Ayling's Sculptures

I love nature and enjoy a walk in the country or just sitting at the top of a hill and playing my Didgeridoo or Native American flute; both are such earthy instruments and when I play I feel I really connect with the earth’s spirits and Deities. I always come away from such an experience filled with inspiration.

When I sculpt I draw on those feelings and inspirations and try to translate them into my work. My Horned God is a prime example, he really flowed and I was amazed at the result, I’m sure I was helped the day that I sculpted him as there was such a wonderful atmosphere and I hope this comes across in the finished piece.

I do a lot of research to help me with my sculpting especially if I’m working on a figurine of a particular God or Goddess. I also try to connect with them and get to know them as best as I can so that I can get them as ‘right’ as possible, it’s not easy sometimes but it’s very rewarding.

My newest sculpt, The Morrigan, is a Goddess that a number of people have asked me to produce. Before I started researching her I had only very sketchy ideas of what she was like, I thought she was an Irish battle Goddess and that was that. But it turned out that, even from the very small amount of information left in ancient Irish texts; she is far more than that. At the end of my research I decided to make her more compassionate than fearsome as she seemed to me to be not a warrior but a passionate Goddess who deals with the instigation and aftermath of war. A Goddess who doesn’t suffer fools gladly but will be there for brave and fearless souls. I always look to her now when I need that extra bit of courage!

I hope you enjoy looking at my work, I make everything myself from start to finish, it’s a challenging job sometimes but very rewarding. Next up is a sculpt of Brigid who will be in production early 2009 and possibly a triple Goddess…watch this space!

External Link: http://www.markaylingdesigns.co.uk/