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How Does Derek Uhlman Curate the Timeless Beauty of Stone Sculpture Art in His Work?

Stone sculpture art is a timeless way to express creativity and craftsmanship.  It started in the ancient days and has evolved into some of the modern creations in this regard. 

For ages, people have been attracted to transforming the stone into such beautiful shapes.

Derek Uhlman is a talented stone sculptor who perfectly balances elegance with imagination in his work.

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What techniques and materials are used today in stone sculpture?

We encounter many sculptures in our everyday lives, and because they are so common, we don't pay any special attention to them. 

However, these are not just a common piece of art; it takes a great deal of effort and human expertise to create them. Traditionally, the entire process was done using human effort, but with the invention of tools and technologies, the work has become much easier, yet it requires human efforts to do it right.

In this article, you will read about the tools and techniques that are employed in the process of stone sculpture.

Two Primary Techniques For Creating Stone Sculpture

Direct Method: In this method, materials are removed from the stone block using chiseling or hammering techniques, and while starting this, the artist has a clear vision of the final stone sculpture. This is often used in traditional sculpture practices.

Indirect Method: First, a small trial model is created, and then the stone carving is done. This allows them to maintain the right dimensions and proportions of the stone sculpture. Tools like callipers are used to transfer the dimensions from the model to the actual sculpture.

Overview of the Entire Process

Copying by "pointing":  This process is usually seen in an indirect method of sculpting where the model and stones are divided into grids, and then each block is pointed (marked).

Roughing out is the initial stage of the sculpting process, where the raw stone is carved to achieve a desirable shape. The main goal is to remove the excess materials from the raw stone and give it a basic shape for more detailed work later.

Refining: Once the general shape of the statue has been determined, the sculptor refines the figure using other tools.

Final stages: The final stage of making stone sculpture is polishing, which can be done using various materials like:

Sandpaper or sand cloth

Emery

Tin and iron oxides

Diamond abrasives

What Basic Stone Carving Tools Fall Into Four Categories?

Based on the hardness, texture, and shape to be achieved from the stone, artists utilize various tools, and each of them provides a unique application in the sculpting process:

Percussion tools for hitting: 

They are used in the process to strike or hit the stone, removing the materials from it and giving it some rough shape.

Mallets

Axes

Adzes

Bouchard

Hammers

Chisels for cutting: 

Sharp-pointed tools are used to create detailed cuts and fine shapes in stone sculpture to achieve a more precise look that is not possible with hammering.

Lettering chisels

Points

Pitching tools

Claw chisels

Chisels

Diamond tools: 

These are used sometimes through the entire carving process, from rough work to the final finish.

Abrasives for material removals:

Abrasives are used for material removal due to their effectiveness in shaping, finishing, and smoothing surfaces. Various types of tools and equipment used are:

Carborundum blocks

Drills

Saws

Grinding and cutting wheels

Water-abrasive machinery and dressing tools such as French and English drags

Stone Working Techniques: Basic to Advanced

Hand Carving

This is the most basic and old technique, even older than the metal tool itself. People used their hands or other stones to create stone sculptures; nowadays, more metal chisels are used. 

Letter Cutting

It is part of stone sculpting, where tools are used to engrave letters into stone. It is typically used to make gravestones, plaques, or monument lettering.

Sand Blasting

It is the process of forcing sand through an air-compressed pressure nozzle to shape another surface. Sandblasting can also be done with other abrasives, such as

Glass

Plastic

For a lighter finish, baking soda

Diamond Cutting

Diamond allows tools such as saws, drills, and grinders to cut through particularly hard surfaces, such as stone. An industrial circular diamond saw, for example, has diamond tips embedded all around the edge. This is used to cut away parts of unwanted stone, transforming large boulders into slabs of various sizes and other workable pieces.

Stone Polishing

Stone can be rough, flat, matte, smooth, or polished into a high-gloss finish similar to glass. To achieve this, a number of different stone polishing machines and techniques can be used. 

This includes grinding, a process similar to sanding, in which large metal discs or diamonds sand out roughness and imperfections. The next stage is buffing, in which polishing powders and compounds such as silicon carbide are pushed over the surface.

Flaming

A more advanced stone sculpture process is flaming the surface using a jet torch. Here, high temperatures combined with cold water chip away at the stone, causing it to flake away. Torches on stone can be used to remove any previous tool marks, leaving a natural “flame finish," or, by applying the heat for longer, they can actually carve into the stone.

Water Jet Cutting  

Water jet cutting is a process in which high-speed water is used to create accurate profiles cut or etched from virtually any material. Abrasive Water Jet Cutting machines can cut virtually all materials, including stone from 1 mm to 150 mm thick, varying in size from the intricate to a 4 m by 2 m profile. 

CNC Machining

We’ve saved one of our favorites to last here, as CNC machines have an impressive role when it comes to stone. 2-axis routers, 3-axis lathes, 4-axis wire cutters, 5-axis mills—whatever 3D forms you thought you could CNC in wood or metal, you are also likely to achieve in stone.

Conclusion

Each of the methods discussed in the article provides a specific quality, which craftsmen use to achieve the desirable results of stone sculpture. More wealthy people are interested in buying stone sculptures, leading to a higher demand for them. 

In fact, in 2022, the value of art and collectibles worldwide increased to 2.17 trillion dollars.

So, as the demand for stone sculpting artists rises, you can get the expected sculpture by reaching out to Derek Uhlman Sculpting. Visit his website to learn more about their work and services.