Artist Statement

Working with rock reflects my personality. Strong…with some fragility.
I am forever looking at space.
Nature creates beautiful rock.
With Australian rock all my sculptures have been worked and enhanced to create sculptural forms.
These organic functional pieces complement and enhance the form and colour of each individual rock.
My outdoor sculptures are designed to encourage and support ongoing life for creatures large and small, for them  to drink, to live and to evolve with nature itself…
Indoor sculptures allow for flowers and plants to be displayed or be a decorative pieces.
The joy in creating this work involves tactile interaction as well as an appreciation for the natural characteristics of the rock.
There is a certain privilege to working with ancient Australian rock.
I invite you to touch my sculptures and feel the energy…

Jules Van de Sande

Jules van de Sande with piece named Time Thinking

Biography

Born in 1961, I was raised on a farming property in Northern NSW, surrounded by bushland, encompassing gullies, waterfalls and rocky outcrops.

As a child, countless hours were spent exploring the landscape and collecting natural materials, and at school I studied lapidary which helped to develop my interest and early skills for cutting and polishing stone.

Opting for a career in hairdressing enabled me to continue working creatively, utilising hair and head shapes to design three dimensional forms and structures.

After spending many years living both overseas and in Sydney, I was able to return to my love of stone when I moved to Bowral in 1990, and in 1991 I began carving rocks while working with Ken Raffe at his Studio in Bundanoon, New South Wales.

I was then awarded a Diploma of Creative Arts at Moss Vale TAFE In 1992.

As my interest in rock carving further developed, one of my creative privileges was to be invited to study rock carving under the highly respected and renowned sculptor, the late May Barrie at her Callemondah Studio, Calderwood New South Wales.

In sharing her fervor, May’s mentorship gave me inspiration and sharpened my focus and creativity.

I now enjoy being able to focus on my passion for sculpting on a full time basis.

My studio in the Joadja Valley is set beside a river amongst rugged outcrops and big skies and it is living in this environment surrounded by the wonderful nature of the bush that nurtures me and provides ongoing inspiration for my works.

My creative energy flows when working with rock, as it reflects my personality; strong but with some fragility and forever looking at space, colour and strength in life, while the softer, more tactile and meditative process of moulding my bird nest sculptures pays homage to the more transient beauty of otherwise discarded elements of the bush and the ingenuity of its inhabitants.

I have been fortunate in sharing my passion for rock carving and have exhibited with the following…

2025 BDAS Sculpture Prize
2025 Private Commissions Headstone and works for WA Family
2024 Private Commissions in the Pilbara Western Australia
2023 Private Commissions
2023 Exhibition – Artful Disposition Retford Park Bowral
2023 Exhibition – Autumn Resonance White Cottage Retford Park Bowral
2023 BOCCA BDAS Bowral
2023 BDAS Sculpture Prize Bowral – Highly Commended
2022 Artisans In The Garden Botanic Gardens Exhibition Sydney
2022 Art Trail exhibition Inspiration to Creation Retford Park Bowral
2022 Guest Artist ARY Artist of the Round Yard Retford Park Bowral
2022 BDAS BOCCA Best of City And Country Art
2022 BDAS Sculpture Prize – Highly Commended
2021 Winner Wingecarribee Shire Council ARTS Trail – Peoples Choice Award
2021 BDAS Sculpture Prize
2021 Private Commissions
2020 Sculpture Exhibition ‘The Balance’,  Wingana, Bundanoon NSW
2020 Southern Highlands Art Trail
2020 BDAS Sculpture Prize
2019 Private Commissions
2018 Highlands Art Trail Joadja Gin Distillery
2018 ‘Tribute’ Wollongong Project Gallery
2018 Callamondah ‘Tribute’ Exhibition
2018 Private Commissions
2017 ‘Materialise’ Sturt Gallery Exhibition
2016 Solo exhibition Bowral District Art Society
2016 Bowral Sculpture Prize BDAS
2014 Art Feast – Berrima Public School
2013 Southern Highlands Art Trail – Harman Studio Burrawang
2013 May Barrie Calemondah Studio Calderwood
2012 May Barrie Calemondah Studio Calderwood
2005 Berrima District Art Society
2003 Milk Factory Gallery Bowral  Collaboration
1999 Open Gardens Meryla
Pre ’99 Private Commissions