Debora Alanna has been practicing stone carving since art school. This document focuses on her stone sculptures created between 2012-2013 while living on Poirier Lake in Sooke, BC. She was inspired by the tranquility of the lake to carve a "Lake Nymph" from alabaster that captures the numinous spirit of the lake. She also carved a "Forest Nymph" sculpture during this time, influenced by the enchanting woods surrounding her location. Both sculptures involved a fluid hand-carving process to gently shape the images from amorphous stone.

1. Debora Alanna
Stone Carving
2012 - 2013

2. Stone carving has been part of
my art practice since my art
school days.
I studied stone carving with
Leonard Osterle at the Ontario
College of Art.
The use of stone as a medium
has been intermittent over
the years.
I have consistently returned to
its use because carving is a
practice that gives me much
joy.
I consider it a meditative
endeavour.
Debora Alanna 1976

3. Work in this presentation concentrates on my stone sculpture
made between 2012 – 2016.
During this time I also drew, painted and made installations.

4. In 2012 – 2013 I lived on Poirier Lake in Sooke BC
an hour from Victoria. This rural enclave afforded an idyllic work setting.
Inspired by the tranquility of the lake, its mystic power
a lake nymph spirit
emerged and formed in my sculpture.
Through my daily lake swims the Lake Nymph asserted her presence allowing
her numinous quietude to transit into the alabaster.

6. Lake Nymph
by Debora Alanna
Alabaster begins as an
amorphous material. An
unspecified lump.
Hand tool carving allows a
fluidity to be imparted where
gentle coaxing of the image
takes shape.
Lake Nymph was a presence
gleaned from Poirier lake.
Size: 12 x 14 x 8" (aprox)

7. Lake Nymph
by Debora Alanna
– work in progress – front view

8. Lake Nymph – work in progress

9. Lake Nymph by Debora Alanna
– side view – top ‘ hair’ detail

10. Lake Nymph
by Debora Alanna
- eyes – right eye

11. Lake Nymph
by Debora Alanna
– face detail – left eye

12. Lake Nymph
changes its
intensity
depending on its
illumination.
The light source
will highlight
features, establish
shadows, call out
the spirit of the
lake.

13. Surrounded by an enchanting wood, my Poirier Lake location in Sooke, BC
inspired another work, Forest Nymph.

15. Forest Nymph
by Debora Alanna
Hand carved alabaster
10 x 8 x 7"
– front view – front detail

16. Forest Nymph
– in progress

17. Forest Nymph
- top details

18. Forest Nymph
- top / side details

19. Forest Nymph – top detail

20. Forest Nymph
by Debora Alanna
– face detail – front view

21. Forest Nymph
by Debora Alanna
– top details – back detail

22. Forest Nymph embodies the sprite that resides
in the metaphoric forest in us all, our intuitive selves.
Its puckish grin, its mischievous demeanour is held by the stone
and teases the viewer.

23. Forest Nymph
by Debora Alanna
Forest Nymph, its impish personality
seemed to test the stone treatment.
Th Nymph does not trust being drawn
into imagery.
This work remains ‘in progress’.

25. Debora Alanna is a
visual artist currently
located in
Montreal Quebec.
All art work,
photographs, writing
and design are
produced by
Debora Alanna.
© Debora Alanna 2016

26. Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to view this
presentation of my stone sculpture
produced 2012 – 2013.
Debora Alanna
FIN