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How to Make Cool Soapstone Carvings

Soapstone is a talc-based rock that derives its name from its waxy slippery texture when polished. It is the softest stone and can be carved using a pocket knife. It often contains impurities and cracks which are hidden until you cut into them; if that happens, you must either work around the imperfection or start fresh. How cool your finished carving is depends upon your imagination, but with the proper method for carving soapstone, the sky is the only limit to your creativity.

Things You'll Need

  • Charcoal pencil
  • Pocket knife
  • Towel or sheet
  • Fine sandpaper
  • Mask
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Instructions

    • 1

      Decide what you want to carve. If you have an artistic background, you may choose something complex, like a flower or an animal. If you are new to sculpture, start out with basic shapes or a two-dimensional "drawing" on the stone.

    • 2

      Draw a basic outline on the stone with a charcoal pencil if doing a two-dimensional drawing. This gives you a guide around which to cut.

    • 3

      Place your stone on a towel or sheet to catch the dust that carving produces.

    • 4

      Use your pocket knife to begin whittling away at the edges of the stone to create a shape. Work by feel as well as by sight, filing away rough edges and smoothing corners. Only you will know when your work is complete.

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Sculpture

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