Ed.: As you will see, Bill has a lot to say about the design and use of a sculpture studio. The Journal will be printing more of his thoughts in the next issue or two, so standby for lots and lots to think about for your present studio, or that perfect one you’ve always dreamed […]
Soapstone has become ubiquitously used as a carving medium by beginners and experienced journeymen and journeywomen sculptors, owing to its ease of working and its brilliant finish. It can be rapidly worked in detail with hand or power tools and can be brightly polished in beautiful hues. In its natural condition, it is earthy and […]
Granite is a magnificent rock that has adorned cities for centuries. It is treasured for its beautiful texture as well as its multitude of utility. It not only flaunts itself in polished monuments, statues and intricate sculptures, but provides foundations for buildings, curbs for streets and steps for stairs. It is undoubtedly the world’s dimension […]
The Stone Column Jade by Bill Laprad by Bill Laprade The English word jade has a circuitous derivation. It started with the Spanish expression “piedra de hijada”, meaning the “stone of the loins”, because it was claimed that this stone could cure diseases of the kidneys. This gave rise to the word nephrite, from the […]
Editor: Hey gang! Hang onto your socks! here’s another glimpse into Bill’s studio designing mind. Have you bought that chop saw or called your contractor yet? (Missed Bill’s PART 1)? Artificial Light For those of us who must work at night, a combination of halogen lights and “full spectrum” lights might be the best compromise […]
Editor: Here we are with Bill’s final word on studio design. Is that even possible for a lawyer? Anyway, get ready for a rousting good talk on equipment, safety, and comfort. (Missed Bill’s PART 1, PART 2)? Equipment in General No matter the size of the stones you work, you need a system to move them from your […]
White, creamy limestone has been a staple of Pacific Northwest sculptors since 1992 when 6 tons of Utah oolitic found its way to the Northwest Stone Sculptors 5th annual carving symposium. It owes its continued popularity (10 tons at the 1993 symposium and many more tons subsequently) to its ease of carving, low cost and […]
Ed: this column on alabaster was last printed in Sculpture NorthWest in the March/April, 2001 issue. Bill Laprade (say it La Prawd) lives in Seattle and is a stone sculptor and a geologist. As a past NWSSA Board Officer for four years, he helped shape the policies for many Association procedures and Symposia. Bill is […]
Anhydrite has not been a widely popular stone, but its availability on the west coast of North American and the beauty of its finish is likely to result in more sculpture exbibits in the future. It has the pearly luster of alabaster and yet carves and finishes more like the harder stones. Geology Anhydrite […]
Slate is a rather mundane, common stone that we remember from our school days. Recall those days when the teacher asked you to do your math problem on the blackboard (slate, in the olde days) and the dog had eaten your homework. Perhaps you could have pulled out your carving tools, turning it into an […]
Waxy, multi-colored alabaster has been the choice of stone for artists and artisans for millennia. It not only serves as the source of beautiful sculptures, but historically it provided utilitarian objects such as jars and casks. It was prized by the Assyrians and the Egyptians for its beauty. One of its most handsome and unique […]
Granite is a magnificent rock that has adorned cities for centuries. It is treasured for its beautiful texture as well as its multitude of utility. It not only flaunts itself in polished monuments, statues and intricate sculptures, but provides foundations for buildings, curbs for streets and steps for stairs. It is undoubtedly the world’s dimension […]
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