The Harvest Moon

Artist's notes on style, materials and inspiration:

My favourite full moon to view each year is the autumn harvest moon, the full moon that falls closest to the autumn equinox. I walk down to a farmers field (almost always it has been recently ploughed ready for the next phase in the farming year) and wait for the moon to rise over the horizon. Autumn is very much in the air, but it isn't usually too cold and the sunsets beforehand are often beautiful too. This particular full moon seems to be especially observed all over the world, and all over East Asia there are mid-autumn festivals and thanksgivings during this time; moon viewing parties were enjoyed in Japan from the Heian period (794 - 1185), where special viewing platforms were set up to admire the moon's beauty and to compose and recite poetry. Many a haiku has formed in my mind whilst watching this scene unfold and on the walk to and from the field.

This girl head piece has a decoration of freshly ploughed fields highlighted in gold, with the full moon rising above. The moon is a disc version, just as we see it in the sky. Our moon always presents the same side to the earth, so we only over see this side, and it is the most beautiful view - the side we don't ever see (often referred to as the 'dark side') is much less varied, without the darker areas we know as 'seas' - just covered in the craters of all of the impacts it has received - this girl's painted wooden moon reflects that difference. The face has been stained with a translucent rich brown for a richer wood tone.

Turned from American Tulipwood, a sustainable and interestingly grained timber, my pieces are turned on a lathe by a production wood turner in the UK to my designs, then added to and painted by me, a British artist. She has been hand painted and finished in a semi-matt acrylic protective top coat.

This girl is approximately 16cm in height.

My pieces are painted in a naïve and simple style, with visible brush strokes and differing paint consistencies. It is important to note that these dolls are made from real wood which will have naturally occurring markings and grain, and sometimes there will be small amount of bleeding along the grain, or knots, which is to be expected when using untreated wood - please make sure you consult the pictures carefully before purchasing.

PLEASE NOTE: Wood girls should be kept away from water which can damage the wood and painted surface, and also away from direct heat/ sunlight which also can affect the surface colour and the timber itself.