Biography
Sharon Spencer’s love of stone and passion for stonecarving are the dual forces which fuel her work. Born in Salinas, California, this lifetime Northern California resident began her love affair with carving almost 25 years ago. Dissatisfied with the bureaucracy and predictability of high school teaching, she left security and comfort to begin a transformational journey.
After briefly exploring her love for photography, Sharon discovered stone. Her early work reflected her intense fascination with native American and Eskimo cultures, affirming her respect for animals and the earth through her figurative sculpture. This thematic thread is a constant throughout her work as it evolves into varying scale and different media which range from large outdoor commissioned abstract pieces to simple, minimalist figurative sculpture.
Sharon’s art has been featured in galleries and in numerous private collections throughout the United States, Canada, Japan and Europe. She has received countless awards of excellence in juried major exhibitions and shows. Sharon feels that the individual piece of stone by its shape, presence and spirit evolves into its final form through the process of carving. Her one-of-a-kind stone carvings and limited edition bronze sculpture capture the fragility of existence, the despair of loss, and communicate a joyous affirmation of life, speaking quietly and powerfully to the heart.
Sharon Spencer’s love of stone and passion for stonecarving are the dual forces which fuel her work. Born in Salinas, California, this lifetime Northern California resident began her love affair with carving almost 25 years ago. Dissatisfied with the bureaucracy and predictability of high school teaching, she left security and comfort to begin a transformational journey.
After briefly exploring her love for photography, Sharon discovered stone. Her early work reflected her intense fascination with native American and Eskimo cultures, affirming her respect for animals and the earth through her figurative sculpture. This thematic thread is a constant throughout her work as it evolves into varying scale and different media which range from large outdoor commissioned abstract pieces to simple, minimalist figurative sculpture.
Sharon’s art has been featured in galleries and in numerous private collections throughout the United States, Canada, Japan and Europe. She has received countless awards of excellence in juried major exhibitions and shows. Sharon feels that the individual piece of stone by its shape, presence and spirit evolves into its final form through the process of carving. Her one-of-a-kind stone carvings and limited edition bronze sculpture capture the fragility of existence, the despair of loss, and communicate a joyous affirmation of life, speaking quietly and powerfully to the heart.
Personal Statement
Stone for me is very exciting, it’s alive and it has a spirit and life of its own. For the past 25 years I have been exploring the “life of stone”. At first, I did this only with hand tools. Then, as I started working on larger pieces, I decided to use pneumatic tools for roughing out the stone. I’m very glad I spent the first 10 years using only hand tools. It showed me the way of the stone. I developed a relationship and passion for the stone that I otherwise would not have had.
The act of carving for me can be very deliberate and thought out or it can be totally free, with no idea in mind as to the direction I might go. The latter is very exciting and magical in that it is always a mystery as to what will emerge. I love having stone line the walls of my studio, like spirits in disguise.
I enjoy the resistance that stone gives me just as life resists when I push too hard. The real challenge is to make my stone pieces appear soft and sensuous with very simple, elegant lines—the art of “Shubui”.
I have ventured into bronze in the last 15 years using my stone pieces as the model for each bronze that I do. I think because of my relationship with stone, when I cast a piece in bronze, the spirit and power are still very present.
Inspiration comes to me in many forms, through nature, which makes my thoughts and feelings soar. It opens me and in doing so I can create. Animals are another source of inspiration for they are our salvation and without them we will become lost and empty. The tragedies and joys in life touch me as well and push me to create. There is a spirit that runs through all that I carve and I would like you to feel that spirit. Hopefully it will enhance your life.
View Sharon Spencer’s Website.
Stone for me is very exciting, it’s alive and it has a spirit and life of its own. For the past 25 years I have been exploring the “life of stone”. At first, I did this only with hand tools. Then, as I started working on larger pieces, I decided to use pneumatic tools for roughing out the stone. I’m very glad I spent the first 10 years using only hand tools. It showed me the way of the stone. I developed a relationship and passion for the stone that I otherwise would not have had.
The act of carving for me can be very deliberate and thought out or it can be totally free, with no idea in mind as to the direction I might go. The latter is very exciting and magical in that it is always a mystery as to what will emerge. I love having stone line the walls of my studio, like spirits in disguise.
I enjoy the resistance that stone gives me just as life resists when I push too hard. The real challenge is to make my stone pieces appear soft and sensuous with very simple, elegant lines—the art of “Shubui”.
I have ventured into bronze in the last 15 years using my stone pieces as the model for each bronze that I do. I think because of my relationship with stone, when I cast a piece in bronze, the spirit and power are still very present.
Inspiration comes to me in many forms, through nature, which makes my thoughts and feelings soar. It opens me and in doing so I can create. Animals are another source of inspiration for they are our salvation and without them we will become lost and empty. The tragedies and joys in life touch me as well and push me to create. There is a spirit that runs through all that I carve and I would like you to feel that spirit. Hopefully it will enhance your life.
View Sharon Spencer’s Website.