Lisa Shorten

15 Dominion Way, St. Albert T8N 6L3
Home: 780-460-2828 / Cell: 780-298-9822 / Email: lshorten@shaw.ca

Biography

Born in Edmonton in 1968, Lisa has lived in many parts of Canada: Calgary, Halifax, St. John's, Ottawa, and NWT. Lisa attended University in both St. John's and Edmonton and although she studied criminology and sociology, she followed a career in administration which has crossed a variety of industries over the years. Lisa has spent many hours volunteering to support several minor sports clubs in Edmonton and St. Albert.

An appreciation for the beauty of stones began at an early age when Lisa spent 6 summers living in Tuktoyaktuk – collecting Jasper along the shores of the Beaufort Sea. Lisa has always had an interest in exploring different art forms. Lisa began carving wooden walking sticks about 10 years ago and it was then that she discovered a fascination for carving.

The opportunities for creating art using both wood and stone are endless. Lisa is continually fine-tuning her skills and exploring different ways to manipulate shape and color of the raw material.

She is an art and photography enthusiast. Lisa currently resides in St. Albert with her two teenage sons.

Statement

I like to think that I am enriching the inner beauty of a stone by choosing a design that connects the finished piece to the colors, shape and texture of the raw material. I try to preserve as much of the stone as possible and my creations are geared towards minimal removal of stone. Each piece is truly unique and the greatest challenge I face as an artist is to choose a design that inspires me to want to spend hours carving and sanding on a beautiful sunny day. Certain stones contain fractures and impurities and I sometimes have to adapt my vision to suit the stone.

I enjoy carving and look forward to the moments at the kitchen sink, when I polish away the footprints of my trade. This is when the true beauty of the stone is revealed. This is also a time for reflection. I often take a "finished" piece back to the table to tweak the shape, add some character or remove some lines. I prefer to take the road less traveled and my style can best be described as "anything goes". I strive to create different art forms that are less commercial and more artistic – from a figurative snowman to a collection of mushrooms. Anything goes. My bucket list is long and I look forward to each new challenge.

The artwork of Lisa Shorten is represented by Rowles & Company Ltd., Alberta's Corporate Gift & Art Gallery, in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, Canada.