STAEDTLER coloured pencils are most widely used in Lionel’s art; however he does not limit himself to pencils.  He once used STAEDTLER Stick 430 pens to create a clear honeycomb light box, reflecting his fascination with structures found in nature. 

Lionel creates small hand-held works through to large sculptural works.  Each begins as a blank ‘canvas’.  Lionel works intuitively, finding the form through the sculptural process.  He follows the natural flow of the piece, choosing colour as a starting point and allowing the sculpture to take on a life of its own.

When Lionel first started working with coloured pencils in this unique way, he focused on the molecular-like appearance of the pencils when they are grouped together, creating pieces that seemed to grow from one central pencil point.  Eventually, Lionel’s sculptures began to mirror the dramatic landscapes that were around him. 

Since 2000, STAEDTLER in Australia has been a supporter of Lionel’s work providing him with hexagonal coloured pencils to help create his inspiring pieces, most being recycled from pencil “seconds”.  The average sized sculpture requires around 8,000 pencils and for Lionel’s largest pieces, he estimates using around 20,000 pencils and spending up to three months to create.

 “We are extremely proud to be a long-term supporter of Lionel Bawden’s work, says Margaret Savage, STAEDTLER Australia’s Marketing Manager.  Lionel has developed a unique process where he glues together hundreds and thousands of STAEDTLER pencils in varying patterns and colours.  From this unique foundation, he carves, shapes and sands a stunning array of forms and concepts.

We are always excited about seeing what Lionel’s working on including his current exhibition ‘Pattern Spill’ which features some magnificent sculptures.  Lionel has also been incorporating our A-B-S coloured leads in his works and is excited about the look this provides to his work.”

Lionel’s current exhibition 'Pattern Spill' comprises a range of small-scale objects created from STAEDTLER coloured pencils that are fused and sculpted together. By working with hexagonal coloured pencils as a sculptural material, Bawden is able to reconfigure and carve a range of amorphous shapes that convey movement and process.  Bawden explores themes of flux, transformation and repetition as preconditions to our experience of the physical world.

This new body of work deals with ideas of control and collapse, surface and interior and organic patterns and energies through static three-dimensional objects.

Bawden's sculptures explore larger ideas beyond the work and relate to societal and natural systems, cycles and structures. Through his work, Bawden communicates macro ideas through micro detail. The works in 'Pattern spill' become vessels for contemplation.

Alongside the sculptures there will also be a range of small meticulous drawings of vast hexagonal cells included in the exhibition. These drawings will act as companions to the sculptures, assisting to convey Bawden's oblique explorations and meditations of the human condition.

Lionel’s current works are on exhibition at Karen Woodbury Gallery in Richmond, Victoria, from November 23 to December 17.  For more information, visit; www.kwgallery.com

Lionel Bawden studied at the Canberra School of Art in Australia, and at the China National Academy of Fine Arts, Hangzhou province.  He was awarded the inaugural ABN AMRO 2004 Emerging Artist Award, as voted by Australian art luminaries and has been represented in Australia’s National Sculpture Prize at the National Gallery of Australia.  In 2008, Lionel represented Australia at the Beijing International Art Biennale.  Lionel was recipient of the 2009 Art Omi International Artist Residency, New York, USA, as well as receiving the 2009 Wynne Prize through the Art Gallery of NSW.  Lionel has exhibited in over 40 group exhibitions within Australia and world-wide.