I carved my first sculpture when I was 15, when my father dug up a huge piece of chalk for me from the Ardenham House grounds. (see ‘Me Jane’).
I loved the easy texture, the carving and weight of it.
When I did my BA at Hornsey Art College – mostly in the Alexandra Palace, I made my first Full-length sculpture in 1963 (Male Form of 'Peanuts').
Then I asked if I could make a life-sized Female Form and, and was allowed one. Mik Dunn, my boyfriend, welded the armature, and Paul Wright, my buddy, joined me to make his own life-sized one of her.
Mik Dunn, my then boyfriend, welded the armature, and Paul Wright, my buddy, joined me to make his own life-sized version of her.
After that, I did two rather strange life-size pieces: ‘Over a Barrel’, and a ‘Plastic Venus’.
I went to a Plastics Exhibition where the machines were spewing out all kinds of the newest plastic ‘things’. So I asked for a welding torch and stuck them altogether into a life-sized ‘Plastic Venus.’ The fumes made me feel ill!
![THE VERY FIRST PLASTIC VENUS](https://www.janewaller.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/plastic-venus.jpg)
THE VERY FIRST PLASTIC VENUS
![‘Chalk Man’ from Ardenham House grounds. 8”by5” Age 15 1959 ‘Chalk Man’ My first sculpture 20cm by 13cm. (1959)](https://www.janewaller.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/first-sculpture.jpg)
‘Chalk Man’ from Ardenham House grounds. 8”by5” Age 15 1959
![‘Chalk Man’ from Ardenham House grounds. 8”by5” Age 15 1959](https://www.janewaller.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/femaleform.jpg)
‘Chalk Man’ from Ardenham House grounds. 8”by5” Age 15 1959
![Male Form (of ‘Peanuts’ - the current model!). He was sculpted in plaster.](https://www.janewaller.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/peanut.jpg)
Male Form (of ‘Peanuts’ - the current model!). He was sculpted in plaster.
![Male Form (of ‘Peanuts’ - the current model!). He was sculpted in plaster.](https://www.janewaller.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/over-a-barrel.jpg)
Male Form (of ‘Peanuts’ - the current model!). He was sculpted in plaster.
The ‘Young Contemporaries’ Sculpture
In 1965, My Boyfriend, Mik Dunn and I won a prize at ‘The Young Contemporaries’ showing at 1½ Suffolk Street, Piccadilly. Crenallated heavy plaster over a wooden former. About 8’ round
I wanted this to be a fountain, with the large balls placed in a circle around the centre on long 2 ft. flexing wires, so that the spout of water shooting out from a raised central spigot sprayed down onto the wobbling balls (probably made of a shiny light metal) which would clash together, with the water spraying off them, then to rush down over the sides of Mik’s crisp-shaped edges to join the water spouting up the centre again.
Maybe this will one day be made by someone?
![The ‘Young Contemporaries’ Sculpture](https://www.janewaller.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/young-contemporaries.jpg)
The ‘Young Contemporaries’ Sculpture
Then I made a tall life-sized figure out of pieces of recycled wood.
In 1970, I went overland to India (protected by Mike Bruce and Robin Greenwood from Oxford University) to study the Pre-Gupta Temples.
But all my photos were ruined by the customs opening them when I returned. They thought I might be smuggling back drugs in the canisters!
However, later, I made an Indian-inspired Bird-bath and Sundial.
![Life-sized figure out of pieces of recycled wood](https://www.janewaller.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/recycled-wood.jpg)
Life-sized figure out of pieces of recycled wood
![Sundial 1971 cast concrete Indian Inspired Sundial](https://www.janewaller.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/indian-sundial.jpg)
Sundial 1971 cast concrete
Nowadays I just make small ceramic or clay figures.
And I also put clay figures onto the rims of my Raku Pots…see ‘SEX-POTS’
However – I have made a Maquette for the Fourth Plinth of Trafalgar Square, Which would be cast in a grey stone background, flecked with black, white and beige, to celebrate Womankind Throughout the World.
‘A Celebration of Womankind throughout the World’
Maybe this could be realised one day?
![Ceramic Reclining figure 8” by 3½” ‘Reclining Figure’ Ceramic Maquette 20 cm x 9cm](https://www.janewaller.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ceramic-recliner.jpg)
Ceramic Reclining figure 8” by 3½”
![Maquette for the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square Fourth Plinth for Trafalgar Square](https://www.janewaller.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/fourth-plinth.jpg)
Maquette for the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square
![Some small baked clay Fertility Goddesses Fertility Godesses](https://www.janewaller.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/fertility-godess.jpg)