Introducing myself; Shop Design

["Simon Brown" <moonsong@zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz>]

Norman,
I think it is important to consider where the sculpted stone will be
installed. If it to be forever outside in natural light, then ideally it
should be fashioned in place, or in similar lighting conditions.

An outdoor installation may be floodlit from below at night, after being
displayed in natural light from above all day- if the lighting effects are
not studied, there can be a grotesque result. I use a pair of floodlights on
an extendable stand to supplement the workshop lighting. They are useful not
only for simulating the Sun indoors, but also for studying the emerging
surface using shadows.

I have heard (but can find no reference) of Michelangelo Buonarroti working
at night with lighted candles fixed to his hat brim to study the effect of
light and shadow across the surface of his sculpture.

You also commented about the sturdy floor mats- a Government stone workshop
that I visit has these mats around each banker to ease the hardness of the
concrete floor. The stonemasons work at their bankers non-stop all day, and
say the mats are great. You could always spread sand around your work area,
or let the rubble build up just to make an uneven surface to stand on.

Simon