How to Carve Soapstone
Soapstone is a mineral often picked by artists as a medium for their creations. The mineral, composed of unrefined talc, is soft and a bit brittle, taking grooves easily at the hands of a sculptor. Its surface breaks off responsively when given a smooth decisive strike from a wood saw. Given its characteristics, it is the perfect starting point for beginner sculptors.
The Tools
Since soapstone is a soft material, you don’t need to use powerful tools like heavy hammers and sharp metal chisels. Woodworking materials are enough. So if you have a chisel, sandpaper and a mallet, you can already manipulate the mineral into a masterpiece. Just be patient, if you’re a first timer. You’ll eventually get the hang of creating shapes and grooves onto the rock.
Start with Basic Patterns
Every beginner has a starting point, as a newbie sculptor has an initial creation. Before you grab your block of soapstone and sculpting materials, you should settle on a good basic pattern. Start with regular shapes and simple grooves. Once you have mastered them, you can move on to following formal patterns, which you can buy from art stores or download on the internet.
Things to Remember:
Creating a sculpture is not all about mashing soapstone with your materials. You have to know certain information that is critical to both your health and your creation.
Wear Safety Gear – Sculpting can be a health hazard, if you are not careful. The stone pieces that chip off while you sculpt may hit your eyes or get inhaled, which won’t do your health any favors. You should wear a pair of goggles and a dust mask.
Oil – During the course of creating your sculpture, it may incur a handful scratches, especially for beginners. Seasoned sculptors often bring some oil to mend small chips and scratches. Just rub the slippery fluid on the affected portions and your creation will be spotless.
Strictly an Indoor Piece - Finished soapstone sculptures may be sturdy but they can’t withstand the rigorous conditions of the outdoors. They will eventually wither from extreme shifts in temperature, moisture and unfavorable weather conditions.
A Brush will Come in Handy – The brush may not be a required material for creating sculptures, but it sure makes things easier. You can use the brush to remove particles from the grooves, which can be mistaken as parts of your creation. It can also help in applying the sculpture’s finish evenly.
Upon knowing these reminders, you are finally ready to create your very first sculpture. Go and see where your creativity takes you.
What to Do:
Gather your set of saws, chisels and other woodworking materials. Purchase a block of soapstone from sculpting shops or mineral stores.
Sketch a nice simple pattern for your creation. You have yet to learn the basics, so you shouldn’t get too ambitious with your designs.
After settling on a design, cut the soapstone’s excess areas using a small saw. The recommended tools for the job are the hacksaw and the keyhole saw.
Use a file or sandpaper to shape and smoothen the mineral. Don’t rub too hard, or else you might not end up with your desired shape.
Use your mallet and chisel to mark impressions on the stone’s surface. Maintain sharp yet precise blows, so the grooves and markings are crisp.
When you have finally eked out your creation’s basic appearance, place it inside an oven. Heat it at about 200 F for 15 minutes.
While the sculpture is still hot, apply wax on it. The heat will melt the wax, causing it to melt. The molten wax will then cover your creation and protect it from scratches, dust and moisture.
Apply more wax if you want to give your soapstone sculpture a nice sheen.
For beginners, it is advisable for you to purchase extra stones for practice. You can try your hand at forming shapes and simple items, before jumping to a formal creation. Remember, a good start always paves the way for something good.
The Inevitable Upgrade
After forming several creations, you’ll eventually master how to fully manipulate soapstone. You can then move to harder minerals such as marble, granite and limestone. These materials are much harder to shape, but you’ll soon be accustomed to the work involved, since you already know the basics. Who knows, one of your future creations may be the next significant artistic piece?