Reddit mentions: The best sculpture appreciation books

Here comes a wall of text so brace yourselves.

First, stone carving is awesome, it is what I do and it is like an addiction. No better material to sculpt with IMHO. There is something to be said from learning autodidactically (I was originally self taught but have done some formal training), but you also don't need to waste time re-inventing the wheel. So do some research, but don't be afraid to break the "rules as you get a feel for things.

Soap stone carving is very different from other stone, as the tools and techniques are completely different. I started with limestone, and now work in Marble and Granite. Be fore warned, unless you have a quarry nearby, soapstone is very expensive($2-$3/lbs). If you decide you like carving after a couple of test sculptures in soapstone, I suggest that you find out what is quarried in your area, and see about getting material from the scrap pile (often way cheaper for material).

The set you have will give you a basic ability to work on very soft stone. I would need to see a better picture of the blunt end of the tool but it is likely either for burnishing(rubbing) or possibly for cutting rounded grooves(a rondel chisel but I am not sure)

If you plan to do any detail work, then you will likely want to use a rotary tool(Dremel or similar) to speed the process.

The book suggested by Artistic programmer is likely a decent choice, Milt Liebson also has a video by the same name(I think) that was available from my public library(VHS) check that out.

Liebson is a direct carver, this means he usually starts a sculpture with little to no pre-design this works for some, not for others. Classically, sculptors would build clay or plaster maquettes(models) and then work the design into the stone. Personally, I do a little of both types of carving, often starting with a nebulous image, and refining it based on what I find in the stone.

I would also recommend the following books:

Sculpture in Stone

Contemporary Stone Sculpture

Last but not least for the love of all that you hold dear be concious of the health hazards!!! Wear a dust mask, some stones contain asbestos, or silica or other harmful minerals. work in a well ventilated space, and wear safety goggles.

TL:DR Carving is awesome, check the books, break the rules and WEAR THE DAMN SAFETY EQUIPMENT!!!

Yours is a technical question. I don't about online tutorials, but I can recommend the excellent book titled Sculpture as Experience. It will give you a strong foundation of different sculptural materials and methods.

The white guy at the end is John Gurche. He is the artist who made the figures seen in the video. This video was created as a promo for his book, Shaping Humanity about how art is used to help us understand human origins. The original video seen here was put out by Yale University Press. Someone then took it, removed the book promos and reposted it.

For real! He started more than 20 years ago. My family has always vacationed at the north shore of superior. He started fiddling around with rocks on the shore decades ago, and the hobby grew from there. He has written a book on it: https://www.amazon.com/Center-Gravity-Guide-Practice-Balancing/dp/1482026341

He also teaches classes and has had many exhibits over the years. His secret: it's all simple physics and a lot of patience and practice. I'm not much good at it, but I haven't put in the practice like he has.

He's been on the front page a few times. Every time people get huffy about leave no trace (he always knocks his balances down) and people try to claim it's glue/photoshop.

If you like his stuff, check out his Instagram! Same username as his Reddit one.

His name is Dan Reeder. He has several books available on making "Screamers" - 1, 2, 3, and a couple more. His website can be found here. He's even a redditor and has popped up in a few threads. I posted something about how much of an impact his books had on me growing up and he replied to my post. Nice guy.

I walked the same path. Forget everything you know.

Introducing Zbrush was a good place to start learning how to use it.
Youtube have tutorials on almost anything that you would like to learn.

Idk man the author of this book and their username check out. Upon further investigation it looks like they posted the images several years ago from the same account. May I ask what proof you found? Not saying you're lying, just want to confirm.

The Autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini
wiki

I found this by accident in my local library. You may like it.

Ditto. my son just built some cool things after he read through the Art of the Brick book by Nathan Sawaya.

Obviously, someone read this book

https://www.amazon.com/Center-Gravity-Guide-Practice-Balancing/dp/1482026341

This book will get you started.

And this book will carry you even further.

/u/mary_gen hadn't replied to you yet, so I thought I'd let you know - OP is the author of this book: https://www.amazon.com/Center-Gravity-Guide-Practice-Balancing/dp/1482026341

For each contact point the center of gravity of the rock(s) above must be directly above the contact, which is usually a little chip, depression, or flat spot where the rocks can "nestle." Takes some practice, but if you start with one rock on another, you can soon develop a feel for it. I wrote a book on rock balancing. It's on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1482026341