stone_sculptures

Library Statue

I have started to carve my second sculpture. It might be classified as a monumental statue, at least for me. Our town of Lucedale is in the process of greatly expanding our library. To honor my grandmother, who was the county librarian for over 30 years, and to help stress the importance of reading to the children as she read to me, I’m carving a life size statue of a grandmother reading to her grandchild. My wife Nancy and our granddaughter Isabelle are the subjects of the work. Below is a picture of the 9000-pound block of Indiana limestone that I’m starting with. The block was too heavy to have it offloaded at my house. A local industry, American Tank and Vessel was extremely helpful in unloading the stone and finding a place on site to let me work on it until I can reduce it in weight by 3000 pounds. Then I’ll bring it to the house for the carving.

My two lovely models, with stone

After removing 2500 lbs, the stone can be delivered to my home for further work. Nov, 01	I’m cutting on the stone with a grinding wheel. I’ll use this to rough the block into shape. The stone sits behind the shop.	Stone with model, 1/4/02
Making progress, 3/5/02 and no, Nancy doesn’t look like that. Check this page for small wax model.	I have the faces of Nancy and Isabelle defined now. I’m waiting for Isabelle to arrive so that I may detail her eyes. I have the arms and hair kind of blocked in. April 15,02	Isabelle’s face. I still need to do the hair and polish the face more. 5/6/02
Nancy’s head is almost complete. Unfortunately, I never could figure how to carve her glasses. Guess in a hundred years, nobody will wear then anyway. 6/24/02	I’m defining the left arms and the baby’s hair. Notice the teddy bear that belonged to Isabelle’s mom, Becky	The baby’s starting to get feet and Nancy is getting a dress. September 4, 02
The 3^rd graders of Lucedale Elementary line up for a practice pull of the statue. When finished, all of the third and forth grade school children in the county will delivery the statue to the library. They will pull the statue a half mile up to the library	The children easily pull the 6000-pound statue. They worked great as a team and were very well behaved. Their teachers should be proud.	Progress as of 10/12/02. Nancy is getting feet.
Progress as of 1/16/03. I’m working on the back.	The heart locket on Nancy was the first present I make for her.	Isabelle’s hair is not this curly, but I couldn’t resist adding them.