Carol Griffin
Medium: Sculpture Studio Location: 43-01 21st St - Studio# 321A 43-01 21st St additional entrance 43-02 22nd St Phone: 917-570-6537 Email: carol@carolcgriffin.com Website:: https://carolcgriffin.com Artist Bio: For over twelve years Carol Griffin studied figurative and abstract direct carving in wood and stone with master sculptor Lorrie Goulet: first at The Art Students League of New York, and later in Goulet's private studio in New York City. Beginning in early 2023, Ms. Griffin, in turn, began teaching direct carving at Woodstock School of Art in Woodstock, New York. In 2023, Ms. Griffin was the Featured Solo Artist in "Apprentice Turned Master: The Nature of Direct Carving" at Harmon-Meek Gallery in Naples, Florida. She participated in the Woodstock School of Art Instructors Exhibitions at the school and at Lockwood Gallery in Kingston, New York. Her work has been presented at the Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, Florida, the Guild Hall museum in East Hampton, New York, and several juried group exhibitions in New York City and in Southampton, New York. Ms. Griffin's work is currently exhibited in the permanent collection of the Golisano Children's Museum of Naples, Florida, and in private collections throughout the United States. Artist Statement: I am a direct carver of abstract figurative sculptures. My mediums are natural stone and wood. I am inspired by forms in nature, particularly human figures, fresh produce, mathematical waves, and aquatic animals. I seek to express the beauty inherent in human and naturalistic shapes. Creating beautiful things has been my passion since childhood. Always drawn to stones, I fell in love with the concept of carving from the moment I watched a bar of soap being shaped with a knife. I relish the subtractive nature of carving, in that the removal of each fragment of material involves an irreversible decision. As a direct carver, I allow the natural properties of the wood or stone to inspire me and influence my work, rather than imposing preconceived drawings or models onto the medium. I feel a palpable connection with the raw mass, and am guided by my inner vision, the inherent properties of the material, and my emotions. Often inspiration comes to me only after I've begun to carve a piece, from a place deep inside my subconscious. While working, most planning and analysis is put on hold while my hands and intuition take over. My hands are often on "auto-pilot". The tools I use are simple: a hammer and chisels, the same tools that have served carvers through the centuries. The stones and woods I carve vary widely with regard to hardness and appearance. My stones range from colorful alabasters and soapstones to white marbles and beige limestones. The woods I use are equally assorted, including applewood, black walnut, pine, sassafras and cedar. Each piece of stone or wood presents unique challenges as I endeavor to incorporate their natural raw beauty into a finished piece. All images and text copyright Carol Griffin