Creating a sculpture in stone is a delicate dance between me as the carver, and the stone as a “rock." A partnership is created and between the two of us we balance my intensions and desires with what the stone is willing to offer to the finished sculpture. The stone may have wonderful veining flowing through the piece or a fracture running deep into it. I push the stone as far as it will allow and the stone reveals all of its attributes during the carving process. The resulting sculpture is a piece that is focusing on hard and soft edges, lines bringing the viewer around the piece to a focal point, values through texture and finally places where light and shadow will visit throughout the day.

Standing toe to toe with my easel I am attempting to capture on canvas what I see in my mind's eye is the finished painting. Usually I am painting a view that caught my eye. There is an Ahh-Haaa moment, when I see something, for example the light dancing though tree branches and at that moment all the breath gets knocked out of me, time stops and I freeze. In my heart I am aching for a brush in my hand. At least I sketch out the scene and make color notes on a pad I keep with me. The best times are when I have my gear and can whip out my easel and paint away. My focus while painting besides capturing the overall idea is on the basics, composition, focal point, values and edges. If I am successful the final painting conveys the feeling of the day and is pleasing to viewers.

An interesting change has occurred in the last few years. While carving my mind drifts and is thinking of painting and while painting my mind wanders out to the carving studio. My work in both processes has improved greatly with this melting of disciplines. Sculpting I am more aware of my lines, negative space and values, painting I am sculpting the trees and mountains and considering the volume of each element. Both processes are tough work, hard on my body and taxing on my mind. Both processes bring excitement and joy to each and everyday, for which I am ever so thankful.
Laura Wambsgans