Artist Details
Elaine Thompson
Parksville BC
When her dancing career came to a close, Elaine Thompson received a surprising job offer prospecting for minerals in Northern BC. Through this drastic change in careers, Elaine was introduced both to stone, in its endless diversity of texture and colour, and to the abundant wildlife of the north.
To while away the many off-hours at camp, Elaine discovered an interest in carving, using the many caribou antlers she found. Carving with bone was too limiting for the three dimensional wild animals she wanted to create, so back in Vancouver she took a short course in soapstone carving and was hooked.
Letting the rock guide her, Elaine feels she cannot force an idea into stone; rather, it presents itself. The rougher the rock, the easier it is to see what waits inside. She trusts her inner voice to tell her when and where to cut, where and when to stop.
To find completion, she runs her hands over the work, sensing whether this is the right time and place to call it finished.
