Sculptor Brad Cahill showcases an extraordinary series of stone works, defined by exceptional craftsmanship and refined precision. View more by visiting his website.
“Cthulu’s Daughter” limestone, 26″ x 16″ x 6″
When I was a kid, there were two things that inspired my education as an artist. One was a small carved replica of a Moai, the mysterious heads on Easter Island, that my father owned. This object was physical. It occupied real space and had real weight and volume.
“The Kraken” polychromed limestone, 26″ x 20″ x 4″
The other was a subscription to National Geographic magazine, where I could learn about our ancient ancestors and the fascinating objects and structures they left for us.
“Bird in the Hand” limestone, 17″ x 11″ x 4″
My formal art practice began in college when I first had the opportunity to wield a hammer and chisel. For the first time I felt aligned with ancient humans that left their mark for generations to come. Stone carving is a satisfying art, and the rhythms and sounds of the tools can be hypnotic.
“Ouroborus” polychromed limestone, 16″ x 13″ x 6″
Carving stone is a very decisive art. There is not a lot of room for quick changes or spontaneous choices. My process involves sketching on paper and in clay, utilizing faster methods and more forgiving materials where I can make expressive decisions in the moment.
“The Abyss Stares Back” polychromed limestone and marble, 17″ x 16″ x 8″
When I land on a form I like, I will take those sketches and make a formal model in clay, usually to the scale of the stone I have chosen to carve. This model will serve as a road map to navigate space, where one plane relates to the next, and tells me how much material I can safely remove.
“Persephone” limestone, 26″ x 16″ x 8″
I use a long series of tools, depending on the size and detail of the work. Large pieces are removed with diamond saws. Sometimes I can keep those pieces for other projects. The majority of the carving is done with pneumatic hammers and chisels, as well as simple one-stroke mallets.
“Pierrot” assemblage of stones, wood, and found objects, 21″ x 7″ x 5″
Refining is done with various rasps and files. Then a series of different grits of sandpaper to hone the surface to whatever level of smooth I want. It is laborious but very rewarding.
“Madame Rainne” limestone, 56″ x 16″ x 10″
Learning to carve stone has given me a good understanding of our ancient ancestors. They left behind a wealth of information with careful, decisive mark making in durable materials. I am proud to now contribute to that unbroken stream of information that stretches deep into the past, and hopefully far into the future.