Alabaster Sculptures

 Alabaster is a fun, colorful, and an easy stone to carve.  Alabaster art and sculpture have been prized for thousands of years. The stone is a variety of gypsum; a beautiful, translucent, fine-grained stone similar to marble, and the two stones are often confused. Alabaster has been quarried for centuries in Italy and Egypt. Although most so-called alabaster artifacts from ancient Egypt and Rome are actually marble.   

Although this piece is sold, I have added it to my portfolio because this stone sculpture is what sparked my love for stone carving.
My husband gifted me with a chunk of pale green alabaster, a hammer, and some chisels for my birthday celebration. I just started chipping away with no idea what I was doing or wanted to make. 

To my surprise, this was my first sold piece! Oh, the joy of it all!

 I was addicted!

 I now embrace myself as  "a stoner".

Sold

14"H x 12"W x 10"D   Turntable Ceramic Base

 This Orange alabaster is a rare, brilliant translucent stone with orange hues that is found in southern Utah. It is also known as Utah alabaster, sunshine orange alabaster, or Utah orange alabaster.  The stone is almost entirely a single mineral rock. It is softer than marble and has a unique, deep, natural orange color. Orange alabaster is valued for its texture, veining, and translucent properties.   

Without a specific vision, I began smoothing out the chunk of rock you see in the slideshow. I really wanted to preserve some of the rough, natural, untouched part of the stone, but as I played, "Flame" emerged.

I was thrilled when three of my stone pieces were accepted into the Gilpin Annual Juried Art Show in Central City, Colorado: Flame, Horse Flower, and Fan Shell. It was particularly delightful when "Flame" was honored with 2nd Place in the 3D category.

16"H x 5"W x 3"D    7 lbs
African Granite Base
$1500

This piece was inspired by a wilted flower on my windowsill as I often look to nature for inspiration. While sanding, I saw the image of an albino horse's head, which is how it got its name.  I love discovering images within my creations. 

 I was so pleased when three of my stone pieces were accepted in the  Gilpin Annual Juried Art Show in Central City, Colorado: Flame, Horse Flower, and Fan Shell. 

I was delighted when Flame earned 2nd Place in the 3D category.

Later (another thrill), Horse Flower was honored 1st Place in 3D at the Lincoln Gallery Juried Show in Loveland, Colorado.

19"H x 8"W x 9"D   25 lbs

African Granite Base on a Turntable

$1500