Form a clay model of the marble carving you want to make. Form this clay model to scale. Set it in front of your work station so that it is easily visible as you work.
Measure the clay figure and measure your marble block. Make sure you have enough marble to achieve the figure.
Outline the shape of your figure with chalk. Draw the figure on the marble surface to help guide you as you begin to chip away the excess.
Put on the protective goggles. Start with the hammer. Knock off excess pieces of marble around the sides. Use hard hits at an angle to remove large pieces.
Chip off finer pieces with the large pick. Hold the pick over the area you wish to remove, then knock it quickly and firmly with the hammer.
Use smaller picks for finer details. Continually reduce the size of your pick as you get closer to achieving the shape of your figure.
Use the claw-chisel when your figure is roughly the size of your model scale. Chisels scrape away fine and oddly shaped areas of marble. Use the flat-chisel on areas you want to be completely smooth. The roughness of the claw-chisel adds interesting texture and detail. Experiment with both.
Add details, such as details of a human face, with a fine claw-chisel that is no bigger than a pencil.
File away excess pieces to begin the polishing process. Scrape the file carefully across your design to smooth the edges.
Sand the entire surface with rough sandpaper. Rub the sandpaper across the surface evenly. Rough sandpaper leaves fine marks on the marble.
Dampen fine sandpaper with water and rub it firmly across the entire surface of the marble figure. This removes the marks of the rough sandpaper.
Dampen a cloth with marble polish. Polish the entire surface and allow it to dry. Repeat once or twice more if you desire a more polished look.