A wide open question!

["John Halter" <halter@zzzzzzzzzz>]

Hello Kathy,

When I help someone new get started in stone sculpture, I use the following
guidelines.

First, use alabaster.  The softer stones, such as soapstone, can be to soft
and break because of lack of skills.  This is really disappointing for
someone new.  My other reason is alabaster takes such a nice shine.
Therefore your sculpture, regardless of skill level, gets a boost from the
stones beauty.  You will also be able to get started with a reasonable
investment in tools.  Marble is a great consistent carve but the investment
in the right tools is often more than a new sculptor wants to put out.  As
you pick up a tool here and there and gain more skill, the natural
transition to marble will happen.

Second, the biggest mistake I see new people making is picking a stone that
is too small.  It seems like it would be easier but just the opposite is
true.  Chasing a small stone around a table will give you a feeling of not
being in control.  I require anyone who I am going to teach to start with at
least a 60lb stone.  They never regret it.

Third, do something abstract.  There are plenty of pictures out there to get
ideas from.  This allows you to learn how to work with the stone instead of
worring how to make it look like something specific.  It also allows you to
keep going if you make a mistake buy just adjusting your idea some.  My
artistic guidelines for those first few pieces are 1) put a hole in it, 2)
work organic shapes and forms (no angles or flat spots), and 3) create a
sense of movement (think of an "S" curve for example).  Working on these
three things teaches someone how to work the stone, use different tools and
create art.  It has always resulted in a sculpture to be proud of.

I am not saying all sculptue should be done this way.  There are many great
artist producing wonderful work who follow completely different paths.  But
these rules of mine have taken frustrated and overwhelmed new sculptors and
turned them into confident excited sculptors ready to grow in their own
direction.

Regards,
John Halter,
halter@----------