"Wood Fossil 12"

 

“Wood Fossil 12” from the 2025 series marks the 513th opal sculpture hand‑carved by Michael, a quiet milestone in his ongoing exploration of natural forms and ancient materials. This piece has been shaped to reveal a remarkable transformation within the stone: the original wood grain has been replaced by opal, preserving the structure of the fossil while infusing it with vivid colour and light.

Carved from Koroit opal, the sculpture displays bright flashes of blues and greens woven through the fossilised patterns. The opal fills the spaces once occupied by timber, creating a striking contrast between the ancient form and the vibrant mineral that now defines it. The surrounding host stone frames these details, adding depth and grounding to the piece.

Measuring 2 × 6 × 6 cm, the sculpture is compact yet full of character, inviting close viewing to appreciate the fine textures and the way the opal traces the original wood structure.

The artwork is presented on a Gidgee timber stand, chosen for its rich colour and dense grain. The stand adds warmth and stability, complementing the earthy tones of the host stone and the brightness of the opal.

For added provenance, the certificate accompanying this piece includes a Koroit‑designed stamp from the Australia Post collection, a thoughtful detail that ties the sculpture back to its place of origin.

“Wood Fossil 12” is a naturally expressive artwork—an elegant meeting of fossil, opal, and craftsmanship, shaped to highlight the quiet beauty hidden within ancient material.

"Sparkling Sentinel"

 

“Sparkling Sentinel” rises with a quiet, confident presence, a tall opal sculpture from the 2025 series shaped by hand from Koroit opal. Its form carries a sense of watchfulness and stillness, as though standing guard in its own natural landscape.

Measuring 21 cm in height, with a length of 14 cm and a width of 3 cm, the sculpture has a graceful vertical silhouette. Subtle flashes of colour appear along its surface, woven through the intricate patterns of the host stone. These natural markings—distinctive to the Koroit Opal Field—give the piece depth, texture, and a gentle sense of movement.

The sculpture is presented on a unique Australian Red Gum timber stand, chosen for its warm tones and organic grain. The stand adds balance and grounding, enhancing the tall, elegant shape of the opal without drawing attention away from it.

“Sparkling Sentinel” is beautifully hand‑carved, shaped to highlight the natural character of the stone and the quiet strength within its form. It suits anyone who appreciates organic shapes, natural textures, and the understated beauty of Koroit opal.

"Floating Feathers"

 “Floating Feathers” FF508 from the 2025 series is a small, quietly expressive two‑piece opal sculpture shaped around the natural beauty found within Koroit opal. In this piece, the opal itself does the storytelling: one stone naturally reveals the soft impression of floating feathers, while the other holds gentle, water‑like patterns within its opal face. These scenes are not carved—they are part of the stone’s own formation, revealed only by shaping the surrounding host rock.

Measuring 0.5 × 3.5 × 2.5 cm, the sculpture is compact and intimate, offering subtle flashes of blue and greens with delicate matrix patterns typical of the Koroit Opal Field. It’s a piece that invites close viewing, rewarding those who enjoy discovering small details and natural imagery within opal.

The sculpture is presented on a handcrafted Australian Red Gum timber stand, chosen for its warm tones and organic grain. The stand adds a gentle sense of grounding, complementing the opal without overpowering it.

“Floating Feathers” FF508 is a thoughtful, artistic piece—ideal for someone who appreciates the quieter side of opal, where nature provides the imagery and the beauty lies in subtlety rather than spectacle.

"Pair of Nuts"

 

From the 2025 collection emerges “Pair of Nuts” FF505, a playful yet deeply textural duet carved from Koroit nut opal. This two‑piece sculpture captures the essence of Koroit material—its complexity, its colour, and its unmistakable sense of movement—while presenting it through a contemporary, minimalist lens.

Each piece reveals a luminous interplay of greens and blues, flashing across the surface with crisp, vibrant intensity. These bright tones sit against a richly patterned host stone, where natural swirls, veins, and intricate matrix lines create a tapestry that feels both ancient and full of character. The contrast between the opal’s fire and the earthy host gives the sculpture a grounded, expressive presence.

The two forms—one measuring 2 × 3 × 2 cm, the other 1 × 3 × 3 cm—are carved as complementary shapes, distinct yet clearly connected. Their proportions create a subtle dialogue of balance and asymmetry, encouraging the viewer to explore the shifting colours and patterns from every angle. Together, they feel like a conversation in stone: understated, intimate, and quietly dynamic.

Supporting the pair is a handcrafted Australian Red Gum timber stand, specially made and precisely countersunk to cradle the sculpture. The Red Gum’s warm, deep tones anchor the composition, offering a natural counterpoint to the opal’s brightness. Its grain adds a gentle texture—an understated frame that enhances rather than competes. The stand becomes part of the artwork, completing the piece with a sense of intention and harmony.

“Pair of Nuts” FF505 is compact, modern, and quietly expressive—an artwork that rewards close attention and invites contemplation. It embodies the spirit of Koroit opal: ancient, intricate, and endlessly surprising.

Refreshing My Artist Bio After Nearly Two Decades of Opal Carving

 Michael Clark is an original and intuitive sculptor whose life’s journey has led him to a rare and innovative relationship with one of Australia’s most remarkable gemstones — opal. Rather than imposing form upon the stone, Michael approaches each piece as a collaboration, allowing the natural contours, colours, and energies of the opal to guide the evolution of the sculpture.

Over decades, he has developed a creative methodology that sets his work apart: opal is never something to dominate or force into conformity. It is a material that reveals itself slowly, offering its own stories when met with patience, sensitivity, and respect. To Michael, opal is an ancient treasure holding millions of years of spirit and story. As a gemstone, it stands alone in its ability to refract white light into vivid, electric, iridescent colour.

Queensland Boulder Opal, in particular, provides a striking partnership between opal and its natural hosts — ironstone and sandstone — whose banding and swirling patterns inspire both the aesthetic direction and the structural integrity of his unique carvings. Each finished sculpture is presented on a custom‑crafted stand made from Australian native timber, selected to complement and elevate the individual character of the opal sculpture.

Michael’s portfolio spans organic freeform, picture‑stone compositions, abstract and surreal forms, and opalised plant fossils, all produced as part of a signature series. Every sculpture is titled, catalogued, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, underscoring his commitment to provenance, craftsmanship, and professional presentation.

His work continues to make a distinguished and lasting contribution to Australia’s contemporary opal‑carving field, affirming his stature as a leading figure in this specialised discipline.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

"Wonderland"

 

“Wonderland” FF500, a commanding opal sculpture marking a significant milestone: the 500th hand‑carved opal artwork by Australian sculptor Michael. This is not simply a piece of opal art—it is a landmark in his body of work, created with intention, scale, and presence.

Carved from Koroit opal sourced from the renowned Koroit Opal Field, “Wonderland” showcases the material at its most dramatic. Flashes of electric blues ignite across the surface, weaving through the stone’s naturally intricate matrix. The host rock itself is a masterpiece—richly patterned, deeply textured, and unmistakably characteristic of Koroit’s geological complexity. The interplay between opal fire and host stone patterning gives the sculpture a depth and gravitas that seasoned collectors immediately recognise.

Measuring an impressive 24 × 20 × 8 cm, this is a large, heavy, and visually commanding work—designed to anchor a room, a boardroom, or a private collection. Its scale alone sets it apart, but its refinement elevates it further. Every contour has been shaped by hand, every surface polished to reveal the stone’s natural architecture.

The sculpture is presented on a specially crafted Australian Red Gum burl stand, chosen for its rich colour, organic grain, and ability to complement the opal without competing with it. The burl’s natural form adds warmth and grounding, creating a presentation that feels both luxurious and authentically Australian.

“Wonderland” FF500 is ideally suited for:

• Serious collectors seeking a milestone piece with scale and provenance

• Corporate gifting where impact, rarity, and craftsmanship matter

• Executive offices or boardrooms needing a statement artwork with presence

• Anyone looking to acquire a signature piece that embodies both artistic achievement and geological wonder

This sculpture stands as a testament to Michael’s mastery and to the extraordinary beauty of Koroit opal—bold, intricate, and unmistakably one‑of‑a‑kind.

"Little Plesiosaur"

 

“Little Plesiosaur” (FF493) from the 2024 series is a nine‑piece Opal Sculpture arranged to represent an ancient prehistoric creature, its head, body, and flippers thoughtfully positioned to evoke the iconic form of a plesiosaur. Each component is lovingly hand‑carved from Koroit Opal material, shaped to highlight the natural contours and character of the stone.

Every opal piece displays incredible natural patterns, with vibrant colour and intricate markings shining through the material. These shifting tones give the sculpture a sense of life and movement, as though the creature has been captured in a moment of quiet animation.

The nine pieces are countersunk into our renowned Huon Pine timber base from Tasmania. The pale, fine‑grained timber provides a beautiful contrast to the rich Koroit opal, grounding the sculpture while enhancing its prehistoric character. Huon Pine’s rarity and history add an extra layer of significance to the artwork.

“Little Plesiosaur” is a one‑of‑a‑kind opal sculpture — a unique fusion of natural beauty, craftsmanship, and imagination, ready to become a standout addition to any collection.

"Foxy"

 

“Foxy” (FF482) is a three‑piece Opal Sculpture arranged to form the distinctive features of a fox head — two alert, expressive eyes and a button nose brought together in a charming, instantly recognizable composition. Hand‑carved from Koroit Nut Opal material, each piece reveals sparkling rainbow kernels within the stone, giving the fox a lively, spirited presence.

The eye pieces showcase vibrant internal colour play, creating the impression of a fox watching with curiosity and intelligence. The small nose piece completes the expression, uniting the trio into a playful and character‑filled sculpture.

The work is presented on a rare Silver Top Gum burl timber stand, whose swirling grain and rich natural tones complement the opal’s colours and enhance the sculpture’s organic beauty. The stand adds a sense of elegance and rarity, grounding the fox head in a uniquely Australian material.

Sizes: Eyes — 2cm x 3cm x 1.5cm Nose — 0.5cm x 1.5cm x 1.5cm

Together, the three pieces form a playful yet elegant interpretation of a fox head — a small but expressive artwork that captures personality through colour, shape, and natural opal fire. “Foxy” invites viewers to appreciate both the charm of the animal it represents and the remarkable beauty hidden within Koroit Nut Opal material.

"Blue Gum Creek"

 

This two‑piece Opal Sculpture represents a pair of Blue Gum trees standing along the banks of an outback river — tall, quiet silhouettes rising from the landscape. Each piece is carved from Queensland Boulder Opal material, sliced to reveal vibrant blue opal that naturally forms the striking shapes of the trees themselves. The surrounding host stone frames the scene, giving the impression of trees emerging from the Australian earth.

Both the front and back surfaces reveal their own unique patterning, offering shifting perspectives as the pieces are turned. Together, the two forms create a natural “picture stone,” capturing a moment of stillness beneath the Australian sky — Blue Gums standing proudly along the river’s edge.

The sculpture is presented on a full‑grain Banksia timber stand, whose rich texture and warm tones complement the opal’s colour and organic shapes. The stand enhances the sense of place, grounding the scene in the native landscape from which the material was formed.

This large Opal Sculpture — both pieces measure 10cm x 13cm x 3.5cm.

A striking, investment‑grade artwork that captures the essence of Australia’s outback landscape in stone.

"Looking Forward"

 

“Looking Forward” (FF471) from our 2024 series is a two‑piece Opal Sculpture created from a single Koroit Nut Opal material. The nut has been carefully sliced in half to reveal the remarkable “corneal” pattern hidden within, exposing the luminous opal at its centre. Together, the two halves form a pair of symbolic “eyes,” suggesting vision, awareness, and the quiet act of looking toward what lies ahead.

Hand‑carved to enhance the natural contours of the material, each piece carries its own subtle expression, yet they remain inseparable — two parts of one original whole. The interplay of pattern and colour within gives the sculpture a sense of depth and presence, as though the stone itself is observing the world.

The work is presented on a two‑tone Gidgee timber stand, crafted to echo the duality of the piece. The contrasting hues of the timber provide a warm, grounded base that complements the sculpture’s mirrored forms.

Sizes: a) 2cm x 4cm x 3cm b) 2.5cm x 4cm x 3cm

Together, the two halves create a contemplative moment — a reminder that clarity often comes from looking inward as much as looking ahead, and that even a single stone can hold a vision waiting to be revealed.

"Around the Camp Fire"

 

“Around the Camp Fire” (FF470) is a three‑piece Opal Sculpture from our 2023 series, each form hand carved from opal that carries its own distinct patterning and flashes of colour within the stone. Together, the trio evokes the familiar scene of a family gathered around a campfire in the outback — a moment many travellers come to know beneath the vast Australian sky.

Each piece stands as an individual figure, yet they belong to one another, united by the warmth of the imagined fire and the shared experience it represents. The natural markings within the opal suggest movement, presence, and quiet storytelling, as though the stones themselves hold memories of the land.

The sculpture is presented on an outback Gidgee timber stand, chosen for its deep, earthy tones and remarkable density. The timber’s rugged character complements the narrative of the piece, grounding the figures in a landscape that feels unmistakably Australian.

Sizes: a) 5.5cm x 3.5cm x 1cm b) 4cm x 2cm x 1cm c) 3cm x 2cm x 5cm

Together, these three forms create a small but evocative tableau — a reminder of the simple, timeless moments shared around a fire, where stories rise with the smoke and the outback night settles in around you.

"Eagle Rock"

 

“Eagle Rock” (FF465) from our 2023 series is a sculptural study in natural suggestion — a form shaped by hand until the stone revealed an unmistakable likeness. Its silhouette recalls the proud profile of an eagle’s head, complete with a pattern that hints at a watchful eye and opal colour shimmering within the contours of the “face.”

The opal’s natural lines and hues guide the interpretation, giving the sculpture a sense of quiet vigilance, as though the spirit of the bird is held within the stone itself.

The piece is set upon a stand crafted from Australian Red Gum, chosen for its rich, earthy tones and strong visual presence. The timber’s depth of colour enhances the sculpture’s form, creating a grounded and harmonious display.

Measuring 3cm x 8cm x 4cm, “Eagle Rock” is compact yet striking — a small sculpture with a distinctive presence.

"Natures Portal"

 

“Nature’s Portal” is the 464th Opal Sculpture in our 2023 series — a hand‑carved work that reveals the hidden world within its host stone. As the layers are shaped away, a unique pattern emerges, opening like a doorway into the stone’s ancient interior, where opal flickers through the matrix with quiet brilliance.

Every curve and contour has been carved with care, allowing the natural character of the opal to guide the form. The result is a piece that feels both intimate and expansive, as though offering a glimpse into a landscape held in miniature.

Presented on a custom countersunk stand crafted from Australia’s Gidgee timber, the sculpture is grounded by one of the country’s densest and most richly toned native woods. The stand has been shaped specifically for this piece, creating a seamless union between stone and timber.

Measuring 3.5cm x 6cm x 4cm, “Nature’s Portal” may be modest in scale, but it carries a depth and presence that invites close contemplation.

"By the Spring"

 “By the Spring” is Opal Sculpture FF463 from our 2023 series — a two‑piece composition shaped from opal sourced in the renowned Koroit Opal Fields. This work celebrates the natural poetry of Koroit material, where intricate patterns and vibrant opal seams flow across the surface like water tracing its way through ancient stone.

Each piece carries its own character yet speaks to the other, creating a quiet dialogue of form, colour, and movement. The sculpture is presented on a hand‑crafted stand made from Australia’s Red Cedar, whose warm tones and fine grain offer a grounded counterpoint to the opal’s luminous complexity.

A meeting of earth, time, and artistry, “By the Spring” invites viewers to explore the depth and detail held within these remarkable stones.

"Shore Break"

“Shore Break” FF462, from the 2023 Opal Sculpture Series, is a beautifully hand‑carved opal artwork presented on an Australian Banksia timber stand. Measuring 10 cm × 22 cm × 6.5 cm, the sculpture features a striking opal picture stone that evokes the gentle movement and layered textures of a shoreline scene. Its flowing contours and natural colour variations create a sense of depth, as though waves are rolling softly toward the viewer.

The reverse side of the sculpture offers an unexpected delight: subtle, naturally formed shapes that resemble the face of a dog, adding a playful and personal moment of discovery for those who take the time to explore it from every angle. The warm, textured Banksia timber stand complements the opal’s coastal palette, grounding the piece in the Australian landscape. “Shore Break” is a work that rewards close observation, blending craftsmanship, natural imagery, and a touch of whimsy into a memorable sculptural experience.