This class will introduce students to the basic tools and techniques of carving stone. You will learn how to approach the reductive process by working directly in stone by use of hand tools and thinking about how to approach a relief. While learning about a variety of chisels and finishing techniques, we will work to carve a relief sculpture referencing an an oak leaf, or an individual student’s own design, to investigate form, depth, and chisel control. The technical components will be supplemented by brief discussions of stone sculpture through history to learn more about the range of approaches in stone sculpture from more ancient practices to contemporary.


1. Using stone carving tools.
2. Techniques for creating relief carving.
3. Historical examples of stone carvings.