When modeling soft, pliable material, like clay, fingers are perhaps the most common tool. Sculptors may use wire to model a preliminary concept for a project or use it as an under-structure around which to sculpt. Sculptors may also use different gauges of wire to create cutting and shaping tools for clay and other soft media, discussed in the cutting section.
A carving knife is one of the most basic cutting tools in sculpture. Its size and style depends on what you're carving. Wood carving and kitchen knives or even razor blades work well for a beginning wood sculptor. Sculptors working with clay employ various tools, either homemade or purchased, to cut clay. A simple piece of fine-gauged wire held taught slices clay well, as do specialized cutters made from brass, bamboo and other materials. These cutters may cut holes, circles or squares. A stone carver uses chisels and hammers to chip away at her material. Toothed chisels carve out a rough shape, while round and flat chisels smooth and detail. Hammer weights also vary depending on how much stone is being removed and the texture the sculptor wants.
In clay sculpting, stamps made from plaster or porcelain clay imprint various textures or designs on wet clay. Other texture tools include anything the sculptor can use to create the look she wants. This may be textured fabric or a carved bottle, for instance. The wood carver typically uses knives and blades of various sharpness and texture to slowly create texture. Stone sculptors use specialized tools, like a tracer tool, to cut a smooth edge on a piece and sandpaper to polish and smooth stone.
Some sculptors do not use clay, stone or wood to sculpt their pieces. A sculptor may specialize in ice pieces, and there's even a niche for pumpkin carving sculptors. In these cases, tools have been adapted or introduced to meet a medium's specific needs. An ice sculptor commonly has to fuse two or more pieces of ice together. She may use aluminum, a handsaw or a tool fashioned from a nail board to do this. Small carving tools like scrapers and pokers and pumpkin patterns are a must for the pumpkin carving enthusiast.