Stone Sculpture Projects Options

[CP]

Ya' that amazonite bird! Why ain't it done yet?!!
Just kiddin' honey, I know, it's getting there a little bit at a time. It's sure going to be a nice one when finished.

Here's one Denise just finished that's pictured on the last page, (butterfly tegg) and I thought everyone would like to see now. Polished out by hand with the new brush sets and mounted flex shaft dremel tool. Denise says that really helps the fatiuge on the hands and arms while carving too.

She sure got a shine on this experimental relief carving. Like she said though, what else are ya' gonna' do with a cracked egg?


Nice work honey!

[jim]

Wow denise beautiful work. I sure wish I had you patience. Persistance too!!

[Denise]

Thanks Jim. Patience and persistance doesnt always pay off when your learning though, but there is always a lesson to be learned.
This was a set of snowflake obsidian butterflies that I was working on. I decided to use my diamond hand files for some of the finer details. I was almost done roughing in the detail on the body of the larger one when the end of the wing popped off.
I know, schist happens, but still bums me out. Maybe I can buzz off the wings, and transplant new ones?

[Denise]

With all the tiny carving and sculpting I do, its bound to happen. Im actually really lucky it hasn't happened more.

Here is a picture of the diamond files I use for the finer detail when needed. Sometimes it takes a slower more delicate pace.
I also put the smaller butterfly in the picture to show its progress with the diamond files. This time, I will try not to accidently pry the wing with the backside of the file.



Wish me luck, I'll need it!

[Denise]

Or not....... I finished the goldstone flower inlay, but I changed my mind about using the orange Opal. The stone was worked so thin in the center that you can see through it when held up to the light. So it gave me an idea to use that to my advantage. This is what I came up with. I know, your thinking that only a fool would add a gem grade dino bone inlay to goldstone right. But I couldnt resist after seeing how it looked. I have been working (testing) on this piece for over 3 years on and off to help me learn, and it has done just that. The goldstone also happens to be from my son Mike, so I will treasure this piece forever. Now I'm wondering what kind of amazing wrap CP is going to do with it.





Whew!!!! Im glad to have it finally done.

[jim]

Wow Denise that's beautiful!!! There's that patience and persistance paying off. Fine piece!!! Dan... better take your time whith this one.

[CP]

For those interested in mounting their flex shafts into the homemade drip pan stations, I've taken a few close up pictures for details on how this proto type is put together.
In time I'll try to write up a list of parts used if anyone is interested in it.

First pic shows the front view and hose clamp mounts as well as the pvc holder, in the later pics this is covered by the foam padding.
Simply a bracket mount (bottom braced) with an adjustable top arm for multiple anlges while working.



This one shows the pad added into the hose clamps which helps keep vibrations down. Even then, the hose clamps will slowly loosen with the work vibrations.



A side view of the mounting bracket



And finally with the flex shaft mounted in it. Just slide the flex shaft through both hose clamps so that you can still reach the collar nut for bit changes and the hold button for locking the shaft during bit changes. Our dremel motor is hung from a bracket above the drip pan set up to keep the shaft as straight as possible.



Mrs.CP can tell everyone how the home made polishing brushes work since she's got a full set from medium grits through polish now.

Happy carving and sculpting everyone.

CP

[Denise]

They work great Dan, and combined with the new dremel shaft holder, it all gets a 2 thumbs up from me.
Thanks again for your help Dan! Your awesome and Im sure others will find this info handy as well.

[fourcornersrocks]

I really like the work ya'll are doing, nice job!

[Denise]

Thanks for the compliments! It helps to love what your doing as we do. The drip system sure helps a bunch also!!

Do you carve or sculpt yourself? If so, I would love to see some of your work .

[Denise]

Dan is still working on a few adjustments to the dremel setup I use, but you cant keep a good woman down.....

Here is a piece of South Park petrified wood. As soon as it was cut it looked like a guitar. There is still alot of work to go, but I have been roughing in the shape. Mostly on the neck of the guitar and the backside where there is a hole Im trying to work out. It was almost 4" long, but I have since shortened the body of the guitar. Not sure the exact shape yet but time will tell the more I work it. The whole neck is translucent when held up to the light.

Dont know what I was thinking. There will need to be some pretty tiny details in this one to look like a guitar.
Plus, the diamond wheels I have been roughing it on are only 1 1/2" wide, with only 3/8" between the wheels. One slip and it could cost me the piece, so I moved onto the flex shaft dremel water drip setup. More updates coming soon.......When I decide what body shape to give it.

I havent been carving and sculpting very long, so be patient with me please, but If anyone has any questions about any of the processes just ask. It's much better to learn together.






I would love to have feedback and suggestions If anyone has any.

Sigh...............Im going to have to put this one on hold for now. Just knowing what its going to take to finish it detailed makes me think I need to keep on practicing on other projects first. After all, practice makes perfect right?

[Boogie]

Hi Mrs CP!

If you feel like making it into something else, you could always turn it into a shovel and if you could somehow add a pick to it and make it into a pin, I think that would be awsome! I'm kind of wierd that way though.

[Denise]

Good eye Boogie, I can definately see that as a possibility in the stone. but.........
As much as the #2 and an Estwing are my friends, I cant see changing this stone. I saw a guitar from the first natural shape of the cut, so a guitar it needs to be.

And to CP who always says, "The stone will be what it wants to be."

[Boogie]

Good eye Boogie, I can definately see that as a possibility in the stone. but.........
As much as the #2 and an Estwing are my friends, I cant see changing this stone. I saw a guitar from the first natural shape of the cut, so a guitar it needs to be.

And to CP who always says, "The stone will be what it wants to be."

Oops! My bad! I didn't realize....

I can't wait to see how it turns out! I'm always amazed at the items you turn out. Very high quality work.

[swizz]

Here's a simple sculpture.
Something I did with one of my small Chrysoprase slabs leftover from the table project.
I don't have any lap gear so this could still use a polishing but turned out ok using a Dremel and a variety of diamond bit shapes and sizes.
I used the image below and photo-shopped a computer pencil sketch of the image. I captured a good outline of the fish by doing this, then reduced it in size, printed, cut pattern, and traced it onto the stone.
I wanted to capture the true shape of this Cuttbow (Rainbow/Cutthrout Hybrid) as it was a well proportioned fish. It was released within seconds of this photo to fight another day.
Not sure what to do with this piece yet and wide open to suggestion!

Here's a crabby-face for ya Denise!
Swear ta God, I wasn't crabby, some shots just "happen" and I intentionally handled that fish out of the water for a very minimal amount of time.
.... + I'm not so photogenic


This is my Chrysoprase rendering, with no back-light


Lights up nicely...