These are just some of the questions that I have been asked most frequently about stone sculpture. Some of the information pertains generically to all stone sculpture, but some answers relate to just the pieces I have created.
Feel free to contact me through email, or through the comments link on sculpture blog posts, with your additional stone sculpture questions.
Handling and cleaning your stone sculptures.
Stone is a very brittle medium and must be handled with care.
Rings, watches, bracelets, belt buckles, zippers, and even plastic buttons can scratch stone easily. Remove anything capable of scratching your sculpture before lifting the sculpture.
Make sure your hands are washed before handling, or wear thin surgical gloves to avoid getting dirt and grease marks on your sculpture.
Avoid using thinner elements of the sculpture (such as a tail or neck) as a handhold when lifting the sculpture as they could break off. Always lift the sculpture from the bottom or middle (if it has a solid middle.)
Avoid bumping and scraping the bottom edges of your sculpture as these can chip and crack. Try to place the sculpture down squarely and gently on its bottom.
Each of my sculpture bases have felt dots on the bottom to protect table surfaces. Many of my sculptures are not pinned to their bases. You may use a bit of museum putty to adhere the sculpture to the base if you wish. I include installation materials, like putty, with the sculpture.
Think of stone sculpture as heavy glass—if it falls or drops, it will break.
Dust your sculpture with a dry, soft, clean cloth such as a dish towel.
I enclose a soft brush for dusting with my sculptures. Masking tape completely covers the metal bristle-holder on the brush – make sure to replace the tape if it comes off.
Any contact of metal on the stone will scratch the stone.
Spills and splashes should be wiped up immediately and rinsed with water. Dry the sculpture with a clean, dry cloth.
Each of my sculptures is sealed against oil and water; however, any acidic liquid spills such as wine, soda, orange juice, etc., will dissolve the stone.
Placement and lighting of your sculptures in your home or office.
Place it where you will enjoy it the most, but avoid direct sunlight.
Stone sculpture is heavy and requires a sturdy table, cabinet or pedestal, especially if it is in a busy part of your home.
Make sure there is enough space around your sculpture display to avoid bumping and accidentally scratching the stone as you walk by it.
All of my sculptures are displayed on turntable bases. Leave space where it can be rotated without striking a wall or another object.
Yes, avoid the following:
Do not display your stone sculpture over, under, or in close proximity to a heat vent. The added heat will dry out the stone, making it more brittle. Stone sculpture should last 500 years or more.
There is not a good Ultraviolet (UV) protective sealer for stone. The sun will surely fade the color of many types of colorful stone very quickly. Do not place your colorful stone sculpture in direct sunlight or under artificial lights that emit UV (such as fluorescents or CFLs).
A wooden base should never be placed in the sun as it will deteriorate rapidly and significantly. Protect your investment, and do not place your sculpture in direct sunlight.
Many sculpture stones will absorb moisture even inside. In drier climates, like my home in Colorado, this may not be a problem. But in damper climates, stones will absorb moisture and this can result in deterioration. White marbles, in particular, with exposure to moisture can develop a biofilm. All my stone sculptures are sealed against oil and moisture for indoor display. Stone sculptures not sealed specifically for outdoor display should be displayed only indoors.
Determine if there is an aspect of your sculpture that you want to emphasize in your display. This could be the translucence of some stone or a detail visible at a particular viewing height or angle. Highlighting the lines or form with gently cast shadows often accentuates the sculpture.
Ceiling track lighting with adjustable lamps work well to direct illumination at a specific area of your sculpture to highlight an aspect of the design. Remember: no UV bulbs!
Back-lighting does not work well in a home or office because the light acts as a spotlight shining in the viewer’s eyes. If you want to back-light a sculpture, use a carefully placed overhead light. Even then, you may have a spotlight problem.
Some sculptures are best viewed looking down at them. Some sculptures are best viewed looking slightly up at them.
Determine where you want the eye level to be focused when viewing your sculpture. Maybe you will be mostly sitting down when in the presence of your sculpture. Plan your display height to take the most common viewpoints into consideration.
Purchasing one of my sculptures.
If you see sculpture here on my website, please contact me for the price. Some of my work is also available at shows and galleries.
The costs for tax and shipping are not included in my price of the stone sculpture. These are extra costs that will depend on where the sculpture will be delivered.
I am required to charge sales tax for purchases made in Colorado. If a purchase is out-of-state (shipped from Colorado), there is no sales tax.
Cost for shipping depends on the weight of the stone sculpture, the shipping destination, and the kind of freight shipping you select. I provide this information to my shipping company, and they can calculate shipping cost. They will ship the sculpture to arrive at your home or business on a particular date, so you can be sure someone is there to receive it.
I require a bank check for the amount of the sculpture, tax if appropriate, and shipping. I wait for the funds to clear before releasing the sculpture to ship.
I accept returns only if the sculpture is undamaged. The purchaser must pay return packaging, insurance, and shipping.
Relocating, shipping, or moving stone sculptures.
Yes, but be careful. Consider having a professional pack it for you.
I recommend shipping stone sculpture as little as possible. It may be difficult to dispute damages or to collect on insurance should the sculpture be broken or damaged during shipping. I realize that many of my designs are not “shipper friendly.” I would hate to hear that a neck, ear, nose, or tail broke off during shipping.
If you must ship or move your stone sculpture, use a double box system with bubble wrap, packing peanuts, or expanding foam for the inner box. Make the outer box a wooden crate. Or, have the sculpture packed and shipped by a professional fine art shipper.
Ship the double-box FedEx as a pallet crate, particularly if the sculpture has vulnerable appendages. I strongly advise overkill when packing stone sculpture for shipping. It is much better than having to repair a broken stone sculpture.