Process

Stone sculpture is a slow, physical, and deeply process-driven practice. This page offers a glimpse into the making of the work—into the dust, noise, repetition, and problem-solving that sit behind each finished piece. Through a combination of video, image sequences, and informal studio photographs, the process is revealed: the tools, the countless small decisions, the adjustments, and the endurance required to carve hard stone by hand and machine. These materials document not only how the sculptures are made, but the evolving knowledge, skill, and experimentation that shape the work over time.

Making of susurrus

This film traces the five-year development of Susurrus, a monumental granite sculpture shaped through long periods of design, engineering, carving, and installation. The work reflects the sustained physical and technical demands of large-scale stone carving.

Making of duo

Below, the image sequence follows the making of duo, revealing how the work gradually emerges through a series of careful cuts, adjustments, and refinements. The photographs emphasise the incremental nature of carving and the quiet decisions that shape the final form. This piece was acquired by the Orange Regional Gallery for public display for their 30th anniversary celebration.

A yellow Hyundai excavator on a construction site with a person in a safety vest standing in front of it, and a tractor in the background.
A large rectangular granite stone with horizontal grooves on its surface, placed outdoors on grassy ground. Construction tools and equipment are positioned on and around the stone, including a chainsaw on top, a red fuel container, and other small it
Broken concrete blocks and plastic crates scattered in a garden with some plants and a greenhouse in the background.
Large stone structure under construction or repair in a grassy outdoor area, with tools and materials scattered around.
A man wearing a mask, gloves, and protective glasses is working on a large stone sculpture outdoors, using a hammer and chisel to carve the stone. The setting is a grassy area with trees and a metal shed in the background.
A person appears to be shaping or carving a large, circular stone structure outdoors, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
A peacock perched on a large sculpture in a rural yard with trees, rusted metal sheds, and fencing in the background.
A man wearing a safety helmet and gloves is using an angle grinder to carve into a large hollowed-out sculpture in an outdoor setting, with grass, trees, and farm equipment in the background.
A person wearing protective gear, including a helmet and ear protection, is working on a large, hollow sculpture outdoors. The person is using a power tool, likely for grinding or cutting, with various tools and materials scattered around.
A person wearing a mask and gloves is working on a large granite sculpture shaped like a crescent moon, outdoors with trees and a fence in the background.
Man standing on a large circular stone sculpture outdoors during daytime.
Large abstract stone sculpture outdoors in grassy field, with trees and equipment visible in the background.
A peacock standing on a sculpture in an outdoor workshop area. The sculpture is cylindrical with a smooth black surface and curved shapes. There are tools, wires, and tools in the background, alongside a person holding a camera. The area is surrounde
A large, cylindrical sculpture being cut or planed with a power tool in an outdoor setting, with tools, debris, and a fence in the background.
A worker in safety gear using a power tool inside a large stone sculpture outdoors.
A person wearing a helmet and protective gear is using a power tool to carve a large, abstract stone sculpture outdoors during the day. The sculpture has a curved, hollow shape with a textured surface.
Two people crouching inside a large sculpture with surprised expressions, outdoors with grass and trees, and a small girl in pink on the left.
Man crouching on the back of a pickup truck, working on a large outdoor sculpture resembling a sphere or planet with a textured surface, in a rural setting during dusk.
A person wearing a helmet and gloves is using a power tool to carve or drill into a large, hollow, gray stone sculpture in a grassy outdoor area with trees in the background.
A large U-shaped stone sculpture outdoors, with construction tools, including a drill and an extension cord, surrounding it.
A person in a blue jacket and black pants wearing a mask, operating a grinder to cut a large piece of black granite, with water spraying from the cutting process on a sunny day outdoors.
A large, circular grey sculpture outdoors on wooden blocks, with a peacock standing nearby on green grass, overcast sky in the background.
A person working on a large, oval-shaped, black and gray object outdoors, wearing gloves and holding tools, with trees and grass in the background.
A modern black and white sculpture with a circular hollow center, placed on a metal platform outdoors with grass, trees, and fencing in the background.
Outdoor scene with a modern sculpture in the foreground, trees providing shade, and a fence enclosing the area. There is a dirt ground and various objects scattered, including buckets and trash.
Man standing outdoors near a modern black sculpture resembling a large, curved, crescent shape, with the sign 'Orange Regional Museum' on a black wall behind him.
Abstract outdoor sculpture consisting of black hollow sphere resting on a wooden platform, located underneath a modern building with stairs and a railing, with the words "Orange Regional Museum" written on the building wall.

Studio Process

A selection of informal studio photographs capturing moments from across Blackwood’s practice—experiments, tools, works in progress, and the everyday reality of working with stone.

A person wearing protective gear, including a helmet and mask, working outdoors on a stone sculpture or monument.
A man wearing safety gear, including a helmet, face mask, and gloves, is using an angle grinder on a large hollowed sculpture outdoors. The sculpture is placed on a sturdy wooden stand, and there are trees and greenery in the background.
A man wearing safety goggles and a gray T-shirt is cutting a large piece of stone or rock outdoors with a power saw. There is green grass on the ground, and fencing and trees in the background.
Person working on large sculpture outdoors, kneeling and examining it closely.
A man with safety goggles, mask, gloves, and boots is standing on a large rock, hammering on it outdoors on a tree stump, with trees and greenery in the background.
A person wearing dark clothing and a hood, standing outdoors in snowy weather, appears to be involved in sculpting or carving a large ice or stone piece on a tree stump. Snow covers the ground and the surrounding area, with trees and a lake in the ba
A person wearing safety gear, including a face mask, ear protection, and gloves, is carving a sculpture out of a large piece of stone outdoors in a grassy area with trees in the background.
A man wearing a safety helmet, gloves, and ear protection uses a grinder to cut a large concrete pipe outdoors. There are wooded areas in the background and various tools and equipment on the ground and nearby table.
A person working outdoors near a body of water, wearing safety gear and working on a stone sculpture, with tools and supplies scattered around.
A roughly hewn stone with colorful chalk markings rests on a wooden pallet outdoors, with blurred grassy background and tools nearby.
Person working outdoors with power tools, shaping a large stone or sculpture, nearby tools and materials on grass and wooden supports.
A man working with power tools on a large spherical object outdoors in a grassy field.
A man wearing headphones and waterproof clothing is carving a black sculpture with a power tool by a lake, surrounded by grass and trees.
A stone sculpture outdoors in a grassy area with trees in the background and some broken pieces of stone on the ground.
A person wearing safety gear working on what appears to be a large stone sculpture outdoors. The person is using power tools and sitting on a curved stone piece surrounded by various tools and equipment. The scene takes place in an open grassy area w
Close-up of a large stone block with numerous power tools, cables, and construction equipment scattered on and around it in an outdoor setting.
A person wearing safety goggles and gloves is carving or polishing a large, rounded stone or marble block outdoors near a body of water, with tents and tools scattered around.
Two artists working on sculptures made of grey stone outdoors near a pond, with trees and grass in the background.
A man wearing a black cap and jacket is working outdoors at a table with various equipment, surrounded by trees and grassy area.