Frequently Asked Questions
- What kind of stone do you use?
Currently, all of my work is done in soapstone and alabaster. More recently, I have only been acquiring alabaster because I am fascinated by the layers of colour and the possibilities of translucency it offers.
- How do you do your sculpting? What tools do you use?
Most of my work is done with hand-chisels and rifflers (specialized files for stone-carving). Deep excavations which can't be refined by them involve the use of powered tools. You can view pictures of the tools here.
- How long does it take to finish one of your sculptures?
Each piece varies, both in actual hours sculpted and the span of time through which it developed. On average, I work on a sculpture for 30 hours and across 4 months. Some sculptures, such as Soapstone #14 and Alabaster #6, took over 60 hours to complete; Soapstone #15 was started in 2003 and completed in 2006.
- How did you get into sculpting?
I have experimented with different media for as long as I can remember. Two-dimensional media, such as painting and photography, did not give my art the feeling of depth I needed. Pottery was closer to what I wanted, but the malleability was incompatible with my nature. Just before beginning my studies in university, I was introduced to stone sculpture and it quickly became my medium of choice.
- Are you on MySpace?
No, but I am active in many other online communities, including Twitter (please visit my Networking page for a full list). I also have a Facebook Page if you would like to become a fan and show your support.
- What happened to alabaster #9?
There is no alabaster #9 sculpture. My good friend, who purchased #6, started referring to it as #9. When we finally realized the mis-numbering, the reference had stuck. Rather than adding to the confusion, I have simply skipped over 9.
