Sanding is traditionally associated with preparing, refining or finishing a surface. For Australian contemporary artist Korynn Morrison, it has become an integral part of creating the finished work itself. Her experience is an example of how professional sanding technology can support specialised applications, helping users work more efficiently while maintaining control and managing dust.
Based in the Sutherland Shire, Korynn is known for her Excavated Landscapes, created through layers of paint that are later sanded back to reveal what lies beneath. As she works across each surface, sanding becomes part of the creative process, allowing her to uncover and re-curate the composition as the layers emerge.
From Hand Sanding to a More Efficient Process
Korynn originally completed much of her sanding by hand. As her practice grew and she began producing more work for exhibitions, the amount of time required to sand each piece became increasingly difficult to manage.
“The moment that I needed to produce more work quicker because I was having a lot of exhibitions, and the first time I used it, I was like, oh my gosh, this is gonna change my life.”
Moving to the Mirka DEROS gave Korynn a more efficient way to approach the large amounts of sanding required by her process, while still maintaining the control needed to work across different areas of each painting.
Her work can involve hours of sanding, with different levels of material removal required across the surface. For Korynn, productivity is not simply about sanding faster. It is about being able to spend more time creating while having equipment that can keep up with the demands of the process.
Control When Every Layer Matters
Korynn's paintings can contain many layers of paint, meaning the amount of material removed can fundamentally change what is revealed. She begins with a heavier grit when she needs to remove more material, then becomes increasingly selective as the composition emerges.
“The DEROS has completely transformed everything for me,” Korynn says.
The combination of performance and control is particularly important when working across large surfaces. The tool needs to provide enough power to work through substantial layers while allowing Korynn to respond to what she discovers underneath.
Designed for Long Sanding Sessions
Korynn can spend hours sanding a single work, making the handling and vibration of the tool an important consideration. She says she has a tendency to experience tennis elbow and has noticed a difference when using the Mirka DEROS compared with other sanders.
“I do have a tendency to get tennis elbow at times. But with this new one, I’m finding it’s a lot better. It’s very steady. The vibration is next to none in comparison to other sanders that I’ve used.”
She also says, “I can literally sand all day.”
For users undertaking extended sanding applications, a balanced and low-vibration tool can contribute to a more comfortable working experience.
Dust Extraction Is Essential
For Korynn, dust extraction is one of the most important aspects of her sanding setup. Her process involves removing significant amounts of paint from large surfaces, making effective dust management essential in the studio.
“The dustless sander is not just helpful, it’s a necessity,” she says.
Paired with a Mirka dust extractor, the system helps capture dust as it is generated and keeps the surrounding workspace cleaner.
“This new dust extractor has made such a difference, not only in the ability to remove the dust so easily. Like, I mean, there’s not even any dust on the floor. It’s quite remarkable.”
Korynn has also noticed an impact on abrasive consumption, saying that despite the amount of sanding required, she has been going through fewer sanding pads.
“They take me hours and hours and hours to sand, but I noticed that I was actually going through way less sanding pads.”
For a user undertaking intensive sanding, abrasive consumption can become a significant ongoing cost, making the performance of the complete sanding system an important consideration.
Beyond Traditional Sanding Applications
Korynn's work may be an unconventional application for professional sanding equipment, but the challenges she faces are familiar to many professional users. She needs to remove material efficiently, maintain control over the surface, manage dust and work comfortably for extended periods.
What changes is the application.
For Korynn, sanding is not simply preparing a surface for the next stage. It is part of the process that determines the final appearance of the work. Each pass can reveal another layer and influence what comes next.
Her experience demonstrates how professional sanding solutions can translate across specialised applications. Whether the task is preparation, refinement, material removal or something entirely different, the fundamentals remain the same: efficient material removal, control, dust management and a system that can keep up with the demands of the job.
From Sanding to Galleries Worldwide
Korynn's journey with sanding began with a simple piece of sandpaper and an unexpected discovery beneath the surface of her work. That moment ultimately led to the Excavated Landscapes she continues to create today and a career that has taken her work to galleries around the world.
Today, sanding remains central to her process, but the way she approaches it has evolved significantly from those early days of hand sanding.
As Korynn puts it, “the sandpaper saved me.”
Her application may be specialised, but the principle is universal: when the right tool, abrasive and dust extraction system are matched to the demands of the job, they can help users work more efficiently and open up new possibilities for how the work gets done.
Korynn's work can be discovered on her website and Instagram pages.
