"Opalfield Colours"

"Opalfield Colours" FF514 from the 2025 series, is a two‑piece sculpture lovingly carved from natural Koroit Opal. Each form reveals striking matrix patterns with vivid blues and greens, presented on a handcrafted Red Gum timber stand that has been specially countersunk for a seamless fit.

• Piece A: 1.5 × 3 × 4 cm

• Piece B: 1.5 × 2 × 6 cm

"Sticks and Stones 2"

 

“Sticks and Stones 2” FF516 from the 2025 series is an opal‑replacement sculpture that reveals a quiet, ancient moment preserved within stone. In this piece, the sticks and stones themselves are the debris—small fragments of natural material from the Cretaceous period, long since transformed. Over millions of years, opal has replaced this debris, capturing its shapes and positions exactly as they settled in the earth.

Carefully exposed by hand, the sculpture reveals these tiny remnants embedded within the host stone, each one uncovered with patience to honour the delicate arrangement nature left behind. The opal traces the outlines of the original material, adding subtle colour and light to the fossilised forms.

This piece was dug from your own mine in Koroit, making the Sticks and Stones series especially meaningful. Each sculpture carries both geological history and personal history—material shaped by time, and revealed by your hands.

“Sticks and Stones” FF516 is a thoughtful, naturally expressive artwork that highlights the quiet beauty of opal replacement and the stories held within ancient debris. It’s a gentle reminder of how even the smallest fragments can become something remarkable when preserved by nature and brought forward with care.

"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 This piece has been shaped to reveal a remarkable transformation within the stone: the original wood grain has been replaced by opal, preserving the structure of the fossil while infusing it with vivid colour and light.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.