pitching

Quoted text begins. > problem to pitch off the sides and get a natural look.
End of quote.

Gary, I have nothing sensible to add to JVC's elegant answer.

But I have two silly suggestions:

Start with a bigger piece of stone and split entirely through the piece;

Use textures other than pitched e.g. claw tool, punched,
sandblasted, acid etched, bush hammered;

You will find plenty more food for thought stored in the StoneList archives.

Simon