Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Creating Art From A Piece Of Stone

Out of the many forms of art, artwork in stone is probably one of the most difficult to master. Art in stone is also one of the most impressive and durable crafts that one can create. Gifting stone to your loved ones conveys a hidden message of your undying love for them. Art in stone, as compared to other long lasting materials, is not overly glitzy, and does not shimmer at all but has a steady, strong and robust quality about it that signifies something that will last forever.

Taking up art in stone as a hobby or a profession is not advisable unless you are seriously committed to it as it requires a lot of time and patience. A simple carving of a man may take up to three weeks of daily work to complete. It is a much better idea to buy one or commission one from a crafter rather than trying your own hand at it.



Sometimes art in stone can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, but considering the amount of time it takes to make, the price seems to be justified. All carving has to be done meticulously by hand and only the most skilled craftsmen and artisans work their art in stone. A large soapstone statue can take months to fabricate before it reaches a store or a direct buyer.

When carving art in stone, you need to have a definite idea of what you want to make as well as the qualities of the material you are using. Softer, gentler features look better on soapstone rather than on coarser and harder rock or jade. The features of the material must be respected for a perfect piece of art in stone. If you launch into it with the idea of making your piece on any given piece of rock, you still might have something appreciable, but it will not be in harmony with the material.

Being carved in stone is therefore an apt metaphor for being ancient and unbreakable!

By Scotie Keithlow

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