Wood Sculpture by Irish Sculptor James McLoughlin
James is available to work on private commissions of wood sculptures and carvings as well as restoration and conservation projects, both large and small. James’ training and experience mean that he can incorporate any carving style into his work including restoration projects, including period specific styles and motifs.
Wood Sculpture in Ireland
James discovered his love for wood carving while whittling away on scrap pieces of wood with a pen knife while serving on a peacekeeping mission with the United Nations in Lebanon. Upon returning, he secured a scholarship to study at the City and Guild of London Art School, earning a place based on that raw talent he discovered while overseas.
Since then, James has gone from strength to strength, briefly working at the Carvers and Gilders where he worked on many large restoration projects including period furniture from the Royal Collections at Kensington Palace, Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, and Buckingham Palace.
The Art of Wood Carving
Though only some of it survives due to its less enduring nature, wood carving is likely one of the oldest forms of artistic expression. Beginning with utilitarian woodworking such as the carving of spears and other tools, wood carving evolved into the wooden sculptures and ornate wood carved decorations that we are familiar with today.
Wood carving, much like stone carving, begins with the material. Wood grain, texture, colour, and finish all give a skilful sculptor like James almost unending options with which to create something incredible.
James enjoys creating wooden sculpture art out of Irish hardwoods such as beech, elm, olive ash, limewood, and oak, creating uniquely Irish wood sculptures from traditionally Irish materials. Every part of his process is done by hand, from chiselling down a large piece of wood to bringing out the lifelike details of a face or flower. He uses traditional hand carving tools to create the intricate details found in his work and lets the warmth and textures of the natural materials speak for themselves.
William Wheeler Wood Carving Award
James attended the prestigious City and Guilds of London Art School where he honed his craft. During his coursework, he was exposed to the artwork of great masters from ancient art, Gothic sculpture, Renaissance carving, and more contemporary pieces.
In recognition of his incredible talent for wood carving and wood sculpture, James was awarded The William Wheeler Woodcarving Prize for Outstanding Work.
Types of Wood Sculpture
Wood Carving
Wood carvings can be ornate, abstract, or incredibly lifelike. James has extensive experience working on period wood carving pieces, creating work to match period homes or buildings. James was a part of the restoration and conservation team working on St. Coleman’s Cathedral in Cobh and his decorative wood carvings can be seen inside the cathedral, blending beautifully with the period decorations.
Wooden Statues
Just like with stone or bronze, wood can be used to create large sculptural pieces from life size wooden statues of incredibly realistic figures to larger more abstract but just as detailed sculptures. From busts to outdoor wooden statues carved into tree stumps to smaller highly detailed abstract pieces, James has an innate ability to imbue life into his materials, bringing out the lustre and natural grain of the wood he works with.
Commission a Wood Sculpture
There is nothing James enjoys more than combining the natural beauty of Irish hardwoods with his own artistic talent to create a one-of-a-kind wood carving sculpture for a client. James finds inspiration in both his materials and in working closely with his clients to help bring their idea to life.
Commissioning a wooden sculpture begins with a conversation. James is happy to discuss your idea for a piece of art, sharing his experience and expertise to help shape your vision into a one-of-a-kind art piece. From there, James will go off to source the materials. As mentioned, James prefers to work with Irish hardwoods but is always willing to work with clients to ensure that their dreams become a reality.
The length of the carving process depends on the size and intricacy of the project as well as James’ other commissions however he is always upfront about the project turnaround time and willing to work with clients’ timelines to the best of his ability.
Stone & Bronze Sculpture
Alongside his wood works, James also creates bespoke stone sculptures and bronze sculptures. You can explore these dedicated pages to see more of his artistry.
Testimonials
Courteous, Skilled and Talented