Traditional Stone Carving & Sculpture Techniques- Stone carving of bas relief Dove in Oval Niche

Sculptor AC Button of www.carolinascu... hand carves a bas relief dove in GA Blue Granite. The goal of the Traditional Stone Carving & Sculpture Techniques and Traditional Stone Finishing videos is to preserve this heritage craft by preparing individuals for further in-studio training and apprenticeship.
A commission for a bas relief stylized dove to be carved upon a Georgia Blue granite memorial was secured. The supplied generic-reference dove motif was to be interpreted and carved at sculptor's discretion in an 8" x 10" niche. After considering the small amount of stone to be removed which limits the opportunity for in-process correction, the sculptor chose to sketch the composition in clay prior to carving. This isn't necessary but provides a means of rehearsing the work in order to produce a superior direct carved result.
This video follows Button as he prepares the stone for carving before proceeding. Placement & layout of the niche and steps taken to protect the fully-manufactured die are covered. Button then carves the job direct in entirety using pneumatic hand machines and carbide chisels, using a clay maquette previously produced to resolve the sculptor's concept.
Small carvings like this project generally do not have a budget to afford production of such a model. However, very little stone will be removed, Without a clear understanding of the overall intended result, such small jobs often suffer as precious volume is lost as details are resolved. The completed carving can look naive and untrained, with details that are noticeably flattened and diminished. Investing a small amount of time in clay is pragmatic in order to produce the best work. After completion of the entire project, the clay maquette can then be cast into plaster to be added to the studio archive, representing past work and potentially guiding future work. The final carving measures approx 1 1/4" deep in an 8" x 10" oval.
For more information about the traditional work of Sculptor AC Button and Carolina Sculpture Studio, visit www.carolinascu... .