Paul Heringer was born in Kamloops in 1971 into a family with extensive experience in British Columbia's wilderness.
By the age of ten, Paul spent countless hours exploring the forests of BC with his parents. During those years he formed a close connection with nature and a fondness for the bears he so often observed in the woods.
Early in his adult life Paul began a career in forestry. He soon became disenchanted after witnessing first hand the destruction of wildlife habitat and decided to leave the industry.
For the next few years Paul traveled the province harvesting edible wild mushrooms for export to restaurants around the world. During one season, on the Sunshine Coast, Paul met a First Nations Elder who introduced him to soapstone carving. Paul had been carving characters in wood for years but found this new medium’s potential, with its rich tones and feel of permanence, exciting.
Paul has spent many years mastering the art of sculpting soapstone bears. He often studies a piece of stone, turning it in many directions, until the bear inside the stone begins to appear to him. Weeks, even months, of carving may pass before his vision is finally revealed to us.
Paul Heringer was born in Kamloops in 1971 into a family with extensive experience in British Columbia's wilderness.