Candice Russell

Artist Statement

I want the marks I make to purposely examine the nuance I see in the world, as I find people beautiful, mysterious and flawed. My choice to sculpt in stone, the natural embrace of form through material and acceptance of carving, the imperfections that arise, problem solving, mathematical acuity, have shaped who I am as an artist. The way people move through their lives inspires me to find movement in sculptural form. Gravity, dignity, expression—all inform my portrait and figure modeling in clay. I enjoy the craftsmanship that is required to accomplish delicate designs grounded in a strong concept. I have a background in classical and beaux arts architecture and sculpture fabrication for over a decade, so the pull to order and embrace natural forms is embedded in my work. When I carve marble I feel an attachment to the core of who I am as an artist. I prefer to see the human hand in my work, change interests me and as I move towards excess in my modeling technique, I’d like to create something large enough that the work demands to be acknowledged.