As an experienced soapstone carver, I vividly remember the thrill of embarking on my journey into this beautiful craft. Carving soapstone can be an incredibly rewarding and meditative experience, making it an ideal choice for beginners. Allow me to share some insights to help you get started on your own soapstone carving adventure.
Choosing soapstone to carve
Selecting soapstone for carving involves a few key considerations:
- Type of Soapstone: First, decide on the type of soapstone you want to carve. Soapstone comes in various colors and hardness levels. Green, gray, and black are common choices, with varying degrees of hardness. Choose one that suits your carving project and preferences.
- Quality: Examine the quality of the soapstone slab or block. Look for pieces with minimal cracks, fissures, or impurities, as these can affect your carving. Higher-quality soapstone will yield better results.
- Size: Determine the size of the soapstone piece you need for your project. Consider the dimensions required for your design and make sure the selected stone is large enough to accommodate it.
- Texture: Assess the texture of the soapstone. Some soapstones have smoother surfaces, while others may be rougher. Your choice should align with the level of detail and finish you want for your carving.
- Source and Supplier: Buy soapstone from reputable suppliers or dealers who specialize in carving materials. They can provide guidance on selecting the right type and quality of soapstone for your specific project.
- Budget: Consider your budget. Soapstone prices can vary based on color, quality, and source. Determine how much you’re willing to spend and choose soapstone within your budget that meets your requirements.
- Personal Preference: Lastly, trust your artistic instincts. Select a soapstone variety that resonates with your creative vision and inspires your carving project.
By considering these factors, you can confidently choose the right soapstone for your carving endeavor.
You can buy the stone, you can easily find the right size blocks on Amazon, for example.
Small Soapstone for Carving, White Blank Cube
Efco Soapstone Blank Rectangular Cube
Item Dimensions LxWxH: 1.97 x 0.79 x 0.79 inches
Middle Soapstone for Carving, Grey Blank Cube
Soapstone for Carving Block – 3” x 3” x 5”
Item Dimensions LxWxH: 3 x 3 x 5 inches
Big Soapstone for Carving, Ocean Green Blank Cube
Sculpture House – CS904-2BX Soapstone, Deep Ocean Green, Pack of 5
Item Weight: 10 Pounds
And Now Some Theory And Good Information
First and foremost, select a soapstone to carve, the soapstone piece that speaks to you. Pay attention to the stone’s texture, color, and size. These attributes can greatly influence your carving project and its final appearance.
Invest in quality tools. A set of rasps, chisels, and files specifically designed for stone carving is essential. You can read about curving tools here. Don’t forget safety gear like goggles and a dust mask to protect yourself during the process.
Plan your design thoughtfully. Start with simple shapes and gradually progress to more intricate forms as you gain confidence. Remember, patience is key. Soapstone carving is a meticulous art, and each stroke contributes to the final masterpiece.
Don’t be discouraged by mistakes; they’re part of the learning process. In fact, some of my most unique creations have resulted from unexpected turns in my carving journey. Adaptability and a willingness to experiment can lead to wonderful discoveries.
When it comes to finishing your piece, consider using mineral oil or beeswax to enhance the stone’s natural beauty and provide a protective finish. This step can truly bring out the depth and richness of the soapstone’s colors.
Above all, embrace the joy of creating. Soapstone carving is not just about the end product but also about the satisfaction of transforming a raw stone into a work of art. Enjoy the process, and let your creativity flow freely.
So, to all you budding soapstone carvers, take the plunge, follow your artistic instincts, and remember that every chip and carve is a step toward mastering this timeless craft.
Which soapstone to carve should I choose?
If there is no experience in carving, it is worth trying yourself in working with soft rocks of stone. For this purpose, even an ordinary silicate brick is suitable.
Its disadvantage is a strong crumbling and cracking, but it is plastic and makes it possible to make beautiful volumetric compositions. You can also get steatite, or wax stone, which is even more malleable and soft, cut even with another hard pebble or simple tools.
On a side note! Even brick and concrete is suitable for carving. Such crafts can be successfully used for interior decoration.
Not a bad option will be alabaster. It is sold in different color variations, a little harder than steatite, but stronger and lighter.
Well amenable to processing limestone, but it is quite limited in color range. From the processing of granite and marble at the initial stage should be abandoned: even a professional can work on these materials for days.
Important! The size of the stone should correspond to the dimensions of the future product and depends only on the specific idea
How to start
To make the first steps on the way to learning a new hobby, it is necessary to determine the goal. This will help to facilitate the task with the selection of materials and tools for manufacturing. There are several options for processing, namely:
for construction work (grinding and cutting material for cladding, and you can also scraft interior bricks from stone);
for jewelry (pendants, buckles, buttons, key chains made of soapstone);
artistic carving (statuettes, animal figures, bowls and so on).
Tip. So that the work does not seem too heavy, you should buy a hammer with two flat surfaces and weighing no more than one kilogram. The chisel should also be flat on both sides and without teeth. At the stage of completion, the figure is processed with a file.
Features of stone carving
Carved stones with artistic images are called glypts, or gems. They are made from different types of raw materials – ornamental, jewelry and decorative, precious stones.
All glypts can be divided into two groups:
- cameos – products with a convex image;
- intaglio – stones with a deepened pattern.
The art of stone carving can also include the manufacture of stone sculptures, statues. Such a task can be done only by professionals, but simple projects can be accomplished by a novice master.
What is glyptics
The term “glyptics” comes from the Greek word glyphein. It means “dissection”, “carving” or “gouging”. Glyptics is the art of artistic carving on stones.
Relief images are made on ornamental, jewelry or precious gems. The finished pieces are called glypts, glyphs, or gems (carved stones).
History of the emergence of glyptics
In antiquity, craftsmen carved handicrafts with a recessed pattern, figures of fauna or flora. During the Hellenistic period, monochrome, bicolor or colored cameos appeared. They began to carve graphic or relief pictures with natural, worldly, mythical and historical subjects.
Interesting facts about stone carving:
– Temur’s tomb (Gur-Emir Mausoleum, Samarkand) is decorated with a jade carved tombstone made in the 15th century;
– the oldest archaeological finds belong to Mesopotamian craftsmen;
– in ancient times carved stone seals, magical artifacts;
– in Europe until the XX century glimpses decorated royal treasuries, monastery sacristies;
– in Europe from the XX century began to open stone-cutting shops;
– in the XV century already made church attributes, jewelry, household items;
– in the XVII-XIX centuries stone-cutting was at the peak of popularity: all classes of people used glypts.
