The Sculptors Lexicon
The art, craft, thought and practical life of the sculptor.
Essays and observations about making sculpture, earning a living from it, the studios and people who practice it, and why sculpture still matters.
Marble · Italy · USA
Finding the right marble can feel like the end of a long search. You have walked the yards, studied the fractures, considered the color, and finally chosen a stone you can imagine carving.
Making a living as a sculptor · Marble · Italy · USA
A promising piece of marble is only the beginning. Before it reaches the sculptor’s workstand, decisions about cutting and preparation will change its shape, its price, and the possibilities it holds.
A block can be beautiful and still be the wrong stone to buy. A white surface may conceal a fracture. A clear ring beneath a hammer may inspire confidence the marble does not deserve. The first task is to look carefully—and resist the urge to fall in love too soon.
Hand Tools & Scrapers · Proper use of Tools · Tools · Italy · USA
Practical observations contributed by John Fisher John Fisher treats finishing as a distinct stage of carving. His sequence moves from hammer and chisel to scraping, then rasping, with each tool continuing to develop the form.
He first establishes the abstract composition, then discovers the figure within the remaining stone.
Making a living as a sculptor · Passionate & Relatable · USA
a Sculptor · Passionate Yet Relatable
Making a living as a sculptor · USA
Is Your Menu Too Big? That is actually the smartest way to proceed. Use “Sculpture Nightmares: Is Your Menu Too Big?” as the first entry. Give it the six-panel image, title, excerpt,…