Carolyn Sandor hails from the small northern Alberta town of High Prairie. In the 60s, the town bloomed as a destination for immigrants of many nationalities, joining the First Nations residents in surrounding reserves and bringing together a unique mix of multi-ethnic languages, beliefs, and ideas.
Her art is still about storytelling, whether in carved stone or acrylic painting. They are reflections of how Carolyn feels and sees the world. Her artistic perception has guided her carving from the start, allowing the stone to tell its story and inspiring her creative energy.
Her first carvings were of soft Brazilian soapstone, but she has expanded her work with harder Quebec soapstone and experiments with white alabaster and translucent selenite. She sees carving as a trusting dialogue with the stone, beginning her carving process through feeling the stone, first softening edges with a rasp, talking to it and creating a relationship with it, searching for the direction that the stone pulls her. Once she has decided her direction, she uses rifflers, small hand files, and chisels to cut away, and for small delicate work, Carolyn uses dental tools. Once the image starts to reveal itself, she observes the whole stone, taking time to identify the flow of the form. The movement in the finished piece is vital to her.
The free-flowing process of carving is what she loves best. ‘’Just trusting the stone and letting the stone guide you –it’s almost like breathing. Or maybe like surfing …You just go with the stone and enjoy the ride.’’ Carolyn delights in the intricacy of details, adding little surprises, which become moments of beauty where the eye can linger. ‘’Of course, the final denouement comes when I rub wax onto the stone and all its amazing colours come to life.’’
To achieve high polished stone requires hours of wet sanding. This process can take her six to ten hours depending on the size and detail of the carving. Her love of detail requires extra time working the crevasses and grooves. After sanding, the stone is heated and then buffed with wax for a deep shine. Whether to apply a base is her final consideration when observing the finished stone.
Carolyn Sandor is a member of the National Capital Network of Sculptors.
Her art is still about storytelling, whether in carved stone or acrylic painting. They are reflections of how Carolyn feels and sees the world. Her artistic perception has guided her carving from the start, allowing the stone to tell its story and inspiring her creative energy.
Her first carvings were of soft Brazilian soapstone, but she has expanded her work with harder Quebec soapstone and experiments with white alabaster and translucent selenite. She sees carving as a trusting dialogue with the stone, beginning her carving process through feeling the stone, first softening edges with a rasp, talking to it and creating a relationship with it, searching for the direction that the stone pulls her. Once she has decided her direction, she uses rifflers, small hand files, and chisels to cut away, and for small delicate work, Carolyn uses dental tools. Once the image starts to reveal itself, she observes the whole stone, taking time to identify the flow of the form. The movement in the finished piece is vital to her.
The free-flowing process of carving is what she loves best. ‘’Just trusting the stone and letting the stone guide you –it’s almost like breathing. Or maybe like surfing …You just go with the stone and enjoy the ride.’’ Carolyn delights in the intricacy of details, adding little surprises, which become moments of beauty where the eye can linger. ‘’Of course, the final denouement comes when I rub wax onto the stone and all its amazing colours come to life.’’
To achieve high polished stone requires hours of wet sanding. This process can take her six to ten hours depending on the size and detail of the carving. Her love of detail requires extra time working the crevasses and grooves. After sanding, the stone is heated and then buffed with wax for a deep shine. Whether to apply a base is her final consideration when observing the finished stone.
Carolyn Sandor is a member of the National Capital Network of Sculptors.
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