Materials:
* Stone: Hepworth favored a wide range of stones, including serpentine, alabaster, granite, limestone, and marble. He valued the unique textures and colors of these natural materials, incorporating them into his sculptures.
* Wood: Hepworth also utilized wood, particularly elm and sycamore, for his sculptures. He carved these materials meticulously, creating intricate shapes and surfaces.
* Bronze: After developing his forms in stone or wood, Hepworth often cast his works in bronze. This allowed for larger scale and durability, ensuring the preservation of his sculptures.
* Other materials: In addition to these primary materials, Hepworth experimented with materials like lead, concrete, and even string and wire in later years.
Techniques:
* Carving: Hepworth was a skilled carver, working directly with stone and wood. He employed subtractive techniques, carefully removing material to reveal the desired form.
* Polishing: Hepworth meticulously polished his stone and wood sculptures, highlighting their natural beauty and texture.
* Casting: For bronze sculptures, Hepworth used the lost-wax casting process. This involved creating a wax model, which was then covered in a mold. The wax was melted out, and molten bronze was poured into the mold, creating the final sculpture.
* Form and Space: Hepworth's sculptures often explored the relationship between form and space, creating hollowed-out shapes that invited the viewer to engage with the void.
* Geometric Abstraction: Hepworth's works often incorporated geometric forms, like circles, squares, and spheres, expressing his interest in abstraction and the purity of form.
Hepworth's mastery of these materials and techniques allowed him to create sculptures that were both technically proficient and aesthetically compelling, leaving a lasting impact on the history of modern sculpture.