My own carving done is soapstone of a mother and her child climbing up on her back. Did this many years ago. This carving was done from an odd rough piece of soapstone. I start by using a hacksaw sometimes and then chisels, etc. to find what I may see in the stone. That’s easier when you have a rough soapstone that is not in a square block shape. It can then evolve as I see something in it.
Front and back of my carving of Mother & Child in Soapstone, done many years ago. I still have soapstone at home to be carved sometime when I find a suitable place, like an outside closed balcony which we will have later in August 2020. I taught others also how to carve in soapstone. The soapstone used in this and the other carving comes from areas of Quebec. This piece was also carved from a rough block of soapstone. I loved owls and saw the possibility to carve them and then decided to make one look backwards, as if it was sulking or did not want to be part of the family group.
When I carve a rough soapstone I just use small woodworking tools and go at it until I SEE something it might be and it just develops from there as best as I can carve it. Working from a square or rectangular block does not allow me to see something initially but I can use my imagination or just use small figurine to develop a carving. It is a very satisfying and relaxing hobby. I did sell a few pieces or gave family members a gift. My son has an Egyptian Cat and every time I visit him I have to republish it a bit.
Most Soapstone is very soft & brittle and so breaks or scratches easily. The pieces I am showing have not been refinished for a long time and need to be re-polished and oiled. There are often flaws in soapstone and variations in colour as seen here.
Posted by Irene, Montreal, Vancouver, Las Vegas on 2020-02-25 23:31:41
Tagged: , Soapstone , Soapstones , Soapstone Carvings , My Own Soapstone Carvings , Art , All Art , My Own Art , Carvings , Sculptures , My Own Sculptures , Figures , Art Forms , People , Mother and Child , Mother & Child Soapstone , Front and Back of Carvings , Child Standing on a Box