Hobbies And Interests
Relief Carving Ideas
Animals are one of the most popular ideas executed in relief carving style. You can expand on this idea by placing your animal of choice within a landscape. For instance you could carve a bird into a pond or a bear next to a tree. Another idea is to carve landscapes in relief. You can give them a modern twist by doing cityscapes, automobiles, trains or even faces. This type of carving requires attention to detail, and in the end it is those very details that set a good carving apart from the rest. Play around with different themes and you will soon find ideas literally coming out of the stonework.
Silhouette Ideas
Soapstone silhouettes are a great way to showcase images of people. You can design them however you wish, but keep in mind the more interesting the silhouette, the more interesting the final piece will be. For endless ideas take a walk down a busy city street and study the different poses people strike. You might find someone waiting for a bus has created a silhouette of interest. If this soapstone carving is for a gift you may find inspiration in the recipient. If the person you are carving the soapstone for is into fishing you could create a fisherman with his fresh catch still on the line.
Sculptural Ideas
Traditionally animals are common in soapstone sculpture but you can take this idea farther by incorporating a modern edge. Think of the fruit commonly painted in still-life paintings and take ideas from your everyday surroundings. Objects that are ordinarily jumbled up in your life can be singled out and made beautiful when carved as a soapstone sculpture. Some ideas for sculpting include lamps, telephones, cutlery or your television remote. You could also turn to industrial items such as tools, tractors and cranes. The options are endless with malleable soapstone. Before you begin, take a look at your piece of stone, you might see something in the stone that will lead you on the right track.