Stone

Stone carving is an ancient art form. It may or may not surprise you to know that classical Greek stone sculptures were painted with vibrant colors rather than being polished. Time has worn away much of the paint from these statues so it has not been apparent to those in current times that this was the case. An example of this can be seen here.

Common stones used to sculpt are alabaster, marble, limestone, and soapstone. Typically contemporary stone sculptures made by beginners are made from alabaster or soapstone. Both of these stones are softer than other stones so they are easier for beginners to work with.