Eddie and Gypsy worked as a team on much of their
commercial work.
It is fair to say that there was nothing that Eddie could not
turn his hand to. He would be asked to do a project. If he
did not know how to do it, he was straight down to the
library to find out how to do it.
As an example, he was asked if he could make a concrete
coat of arms for the (then) Timaru public library. The
building now houses the Timaru Council and its various
departments after a new library was built.
Eddie had never made a concrete coat of arms but still said
“no problem” and was straight into the library to find out
how it was done. Bit of a doddle really. Just make a clay
positive, then a plaster of paris negative, then cast the real
thing.
Only one problem. Due to lack of "studio", Mum had to make
the clay mould - inside the house - where the billiard table
was. Out goes the billiard table, in comes the base for the
clay positive.
That’s how he worked. In to the library for the “how to”,
then back to the studio to make it. This study pattern set
his path into silk screening, boat building, jewellery, pottery
and the numerous glazing techniques, casting aluminium and
bronze sculptures, fibreglass work for murals and so forth.
COAT OF ARMS
TOWN HALL TIMARU NEW ZEALAND
Eddie and Gypsy were commisioned to make large wall murals
for several of the drinking establishments in Christchurch.
The mounted riders are made of metal
The background is sandblasted wood
The men and their mounts are made of steel
with stainless steel and copper fill
The ship and sails are made of steel with fibreglass fill