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About the Artist Northern Stoneworks founder Terry Corbett is an accomplished sculptor. For the past 20 years, his work has been exhibited in major galleries and collections across Canada and the United States. Originally from Goderich, Ontario, he currently works at Northern Lights Sculpture Studios, located in a converted warehouse in the historic village of Woodstock, Ontario. The building has a varied past from its roots in 1859 as a state-of-the-art carriage manufacturer. "When I was in my twenties, I discovered that you could move around a piece of artwork, a lot like discovering the other side of the world on a globe," said Terry Corbett. "It had depth and therefore meaning. When I discovered stone, the concept of working in something hard, rather than soft was like seeing the sun rising for the first time." At a very young age, Terry was always extremely creative on a conceptual level, but weak in his technical ability. When he discovered sculpture in his mid-twenties, however, it was like a big door opened; it just made sense to him. A few years later, he moved into stone sculpture and it was a perfect fit. Terry was a friend of Canada's renowned E.B. Cox, who taught him about sculptural balance, and where to find unusual stone. "In stone, you can make no mistakes. It needs to be perfect," said Terry. "So you also need a great deal of patience. You also have to be able to see dimensionally. Once you settle in, you will find a great deal of beauty in form, balance and symmetry", he added. Terry saw an opportunity to work with interior designers, architects, builders and homeowners to create exquisite, custom-made, stone pieces and cast stone fireplaces that perfectly suit the architectural setting of the home. One of his most interesting projects was the "Sun Face", carved in a Rosal Limestone for a client in Texas, in which she permitted him to make a mold before shipping it. "People generally want their living room to be the focal point of the house, as it is usually the first thing friends see when they walk in the door", said Terry. "The design is determined by factors such as space and balance. We generally try to get a feel for the client's taste. Then we measure the dimensions, so we know what sizes might limit us, before we start shaping the layout." Creation Process At Northern Stoneworks, clients can experience the artistic journey in which Terry Corbett creates an original cast stone fireplace mantel. The client is invited to collaborate with the artist, bringing to life a piece that blends seamlessly with an existing interior living space, perhaps drawing inspiration from Classical art and architecture. What is your fireplace mantel design? Let's create it together. You might have a planned layout for a fireplace mantel that fits your environment. Often clients ask Terry to recreate a fireplace mantel seen in a magazine. In one particular instance, a client was inspired by the infamous fireplace located in the bedroom of Napoleon I, dated between 1890 and 1905. Alternatively, Terry can help you conceptualize a brand new design from the beginning stages that suits your individual needs. Whether you are an architect, a designer, a builder or a home owner, he will create the sketches and layouts, and ensure the proper measurements; help you choose your desired material, the look, the feel and finish. Once the design is planned, the sculpting stage begins. From the originals that Terry has carved, he creates molds so that he can cast these fireplace mantels in stone, and not just a cement mold. He uses a unique blend of materials so that the cast pieces look strikingly like aged limestone. This is perhaps the most important part of his technique. Years of experience in working with stone has led Northern Stoneworks to an understanding and appreciation of it, enabling Terry to replicate it in cast pieces. In the final stages, Terry blends a number of colours and finishes from "open cast" to honed or antiqued finishes, chosen by the client. Upon completion, an exquisite handcrafted masterpiece is ready to be installed.