Carve

Delve into the vibrant world of stone sculpture and the dedicated community that shapes it. Explore a rich array of subcategories, including insights into the essence of Sculpture NW, perspectives from the editors, artist spotlights, and engaging conversations. Whether you’re a seasoned sculptor or a novice exploring the Beginner’s Corner, this space is a treasure trove of knowledge. Northwest Stone Sculpture Association is not just a platform; it’s a community, a conversation, and an exploration of the fascinating world of stone carving.

Carved Stone Vase – Jan/Feb 1997

For a number of years, sculptor Jim Ballard has been creating a series of vases. These pieces, made of basalt, granite, steatite, sandstone and marble, can be used for Ikebana […]

Making a Clay Maquette – and Selling it Too! – May/June 1998

It will be my great pleasure to share some tricks I’ve learned over the years to sketch and sculpt the human form in clay, wax or plastilina. Quick sketches, careful […]

Designing Your Sculpture Studio: Part 1 July/Aug 2004

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 […]

Art and Sculpture – Drawing Can Help Us Sculpt

ART AND SCULPTURE Thoughts on how drawing can help us sculpt. Taken from my notes on a 2008 lecture by Bob Leverich with some input from others. By Bill Weissinger […]

Polishing

Part of this material I used in the 20 hour granite course I taught at Pratt. Most of the info is from Tom Urban’s workshop at Camp Brotherhod, some from […]

Stone-Fired Furnace: Making Chisels

Hand tools, yeah! One arm swings the hammer; the other braces the point or claw. This drum beat sends us on a journey into the stone. It’s primitive, direct, a […]

Compressors – for your air tools

This post is a plug to give Jeff Powell’s Air Compressors for Carving Stone a read. Its a useful overview and has enough terminology, detail, and advice to get you […]

December 20, 2009
Carl Nelson

Sanding Mandrels – Roll Your Own

Sanding mandrels are very useful in grinding, rounding, and sanding the upper inside lips of stone vases. The transition between a flat surface and a core-drilled hole is usually sharp, […]

January 5, 2023
Pat Barton

Quiet your Dust – Variable Speed Electric Die Grinder

ed Note: Much has happened in the variable speed electric die grinder marketplace since this was written and there are many choices at features, searching for: variable speed electric die […]

July 27, 2022
NWSSA

Stone-Fired Furnace: Making Chisels

Hand tools, yeah! One arm swings the hammer; the other braces the point or claw. This drum beat sends us on a journey into the stone. It’s primitive, direct, a […]

July 27, 2022
NWSSA

Oil That Hammer

My first “power tool” for sculpting was an angle grinder fitted up with a masonry grinding disc. It seemed an amazing step from the serenity of hand tools to the […]

July 27, 2022
Dan Michael

Splitting Granite

Part of this material I used in the 20 hour granite course I taught at Pratt. Most of the info is from Tom Urban’s workshop at Camp Brotherhod, some from […]

January 3, 2023
Kirk McLean

Basing for Dummies, An Easy Alternative to the Stone Problem – Sept/Oct 2000

One of the problems I have faced as a “mostly hand tool, hobby sculptor” is dealing with bases. I took Joanne Duby’s workshops at the Camp Brotherhood Symposium, learned her techniques, […]

September 2, 2000
Jan Willing

Maquettes and drawings for jade projects

Theres not one hard and fast rule with how to plan your jade piece.  There are some jade pieces that dictate to the maker how it will evolve, but forthe […]

January 14, 2024
Deborah Wilson

Beginning Stone Carving

I’ve Never Carved a Stone!  What can I expect as a beginner? Impressions of NWSSA’s Stone Sculpture Symposiums by Pat Barton, Irene Blomberg & Berta Geller Beginner Training: Beginner Work […]

Cool Tools

A new 2” brazed diamond blade fits on my angle grinder. Then this power tool can almost be used as a chisel – carving and smoothing. Diamond rasps let me […]

Art Business Basics 101: Business Contracts for Artists – March/Apr 2000

Several years ago, NWSSA initiated a “Statement of Services” that is used for vendors and members who are paid for their work. Generally this agreement is used at our symposiums, such as Camp Brotherhood. It […]

Art Business Basics 101: You’re an Artist, but are You a Business – Accounting Sept/Oct 1998- March/Apr 2000

Your lifestyle requires money! Achieve itll And account for it!! Generally, the artist in business alone is operating under a Sole Proprietorship (one individual or a married couple). This is […]

Quiet your Dust – Variable Speed Electric Die Grinder

ed Note: Much has happened in the variable speed electric die grinder marketplace since this was written and there are many choices at features, searching for: variable speed electric die […]

Artist Advice “Rock Economics 101” (2004)

Let’s hope you didn’t become an artist so you could get rich. Even the mythological “famous artist” seems to have died with Andy Warhol. So, in the absence of fame […]

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