Name:  Hanna Maria MacNaughtan, www.HannaMacNaughtan.ca 

Medium:  stone

Background:  Self taught artist: paints in watercolour, acrylic, mixed media, carves soapstone Inspired by nature and people… especially people I meet at work as an Oncology Nurse. Also, I am a musician and play the harp.

How long have you been a sculptor?  Carving soapstone for just three years.

Why did you start sculpting?  Just went to a class one time with a friend and got hooked!

What inspires you?  My work as an Oncology Nurse inspires me for most everything I do in my life. I meet many amazing people every time I go to work and they all, in some way are incorporated into my artwork. My work also helps me to appreciate this life we are all given and not to waste one minute of it.

I am also inspired by nature having grown up in the country. I spent most of my days outside as a child exploring the land around our old farm house and had many encounters with wildlife.

What is your favourite sculpture?  I would have to say my favourite sculpture is actually more than one piece ~ it’s one I love to make over and over ~ Butterfly Hearts! These little stone carvings are not exactly worthy of an exhibit presentation for they are very simple in shape and structure. Maybe that’s why I love them? And even though I make hundreds, each one is always unique! I find this fascinating and never get tired of making them! Butterfly Hearts have a very special meaning to me ~ Love of Life. They are inspired from my childhood memories of the Monarchs flocking to a meadow and trees near our home each fall on their annual migration as well as an incredible visit I took to the Monarch Butterfly sanctuaries in Mexico a few years ago.

Which sculptures will you be exhibiting at Dimensions 2013?  I am bringing Obscured Splendor (aka Norm) to the Dimensions Exhibit this year. He is rather large and heavy and doesn’t get out much. I have included photos of him from beginning to end. Norm was inspired by a deer skull my husband found. I had this deer skull kicking around the studio for months wondering what I would do with it… and then I came up with the perfect idea ~ Norm! Vultures are repulsive to some people who don’t understand them. I find them incredibly amazing creatures that never hurt anything but rather go around cleaning up the messes they find.

Also, I will be bringing in a much smaller piece called Co-Dependent. It’s a figurative piece of two people sort of clinging to each other and each one appears to be ready to fall.

What will you be working on in the coming year?  I have several soapstones in my studio at the moment calling my name! I have no idea what is inside each one just yet…time will tell.

I am also busy with my harp these days. I plan to take another Royal Conservatory harp exam this year and so I will need to channel a significant portion of my energy and time towards that!