Soapstone Carvings by Vicki Sherwood

Soapstone Carvings
by
Vicki Sherwood

Here are some photographs of the soapstone sculptures that I have made over the past 4 or 5 years.
Working with soapstone is very interesting. The shape or object has to be in the stone, sort of wanting to get out. The stone for "Fat Cat" sat there and I could almost hear it say "Meow". Sometimes shapes just seem to happen as you work - like the whale tail in "Waves". "Pink Lady" was intended to be slim and willowy but turned out solid and motherly, standing firm against the storm. It makes working with the stone exciting - you never know what surprises are in store.

Soapstone
Loon - light green soapstone - 8 inches long	Eagle - dark green soapstone - 4 inches high
Pink Lady (front) rose pink soapstone - 8 1/2 inches high	Pink Lady (back - the stone has lovely colour variations) rose pink soapstone - 8 1/2 inches high
Fat Cat (Kim & Rory wanted a cat. This one won't eat the birds.) almost pure white soapstone - 8 1/2 inches high	Fat Cat - looking decidedly overweight almost pure white soapstone - 8 1/2 inches high
Waves (from front - this is the side I usually like best) dark green soapstone - 12 inches long x 6 inches high	Waves (from back - Kim insists this is the best side) dark green soapstone - 12 inches long x 6 inches high The resemblance to a whale tail was not planned; it just happened.
Waves (end-on)
Waves 2 (from front) - light green soapstone - 9 inches long x 6 inches high	Waves 2 (from back) The markings in the stone said water, but it didn't work as well as the first waves stone.
GeoStone (from front) - dark green soapstone 12 inches high x 5 inches wide x 4 inches deep	GeoStone (from back)	GeoStone (from side)
Pelican (from front) - white soapstone 11 inches high x 6 inches wide	Pelican (from side) I intended to make a sleeping heron but...
Black soapstone - 7 1/2 inches x 4 1/2 inches high by eskimo artist Henry Anauta 1979 My inspiration to start soapstone carving