Randall Stoner Artist Statement

RANDALL STONER

I love digging into the wood, removing unneeded areas, and reveal- ing more and more of the treasure trapped within the block. The
fulfillment I get when searching for angles, positioning subject matter, and detailing the piece to completion is phenomenal. Additionally, an emotional bond from an experience, story, or thing I’ve viewed prel- udes the start of all my projects. One of the most frequent ways I find inspiration for my work is through the stories I love to read. Particular- ly moving passages permeate my thoughts and fuel my creative action. I find myself reliving the feelings of inhabiting this other reality so thor- oughly that the “unreal” elements of the story, such as dwarfs & ogres, seem spectacularly real long after the book was finished. It is this im-
mersion into their prosaic lives, monumen- tal struggles, and epic successes that make it possible for me to create art that is wor- thy of the sentiment brought forth by the literature.
I discover each new piece individually. Cer- tainly, I have ideas running rampant all the time, but for the most part, when I com-
plete one project I start researching the next powerful work. Through the research alone, I get ramped up and emotionally bound to my idea, and often start the work prior to getting an understanding of what will be in the entire piece. At times like these I “discover” the rest of the content as I develop the project.
The wood species I use most often is Basswood. It is an off-white, al- most cream colored, tending towards very light brown. The grain is straight, texture is even, and holds carving detail very well. Seldom does it warp after seasoning which makes it close to ideal for larger pieces, as well as small. Finally, the light color allows numerous shades of darkening via wood burning tools and takes finish sealants well. Fi- nally, I encourage people to touch the piece, though with a gentle hand.