Have you ever wandered through one of those boutique nurseries and seen a gorgeous stone sculpture, something quite unique that would quaintly express an aspect of you, something that would look perfect in that shady corner spot in the garden, something that you just had to have…. until you turn over the price tag, feel the short, sharp stab of shock and then decide that corner spot will just have to go without! Well, with just one day spent at one of Steve Halsey’s Soft Stone sculpting workshops, you can create your own unique creation without the hefty price tag.
Since 2003 Steve has been teaching people from all walks of life how to get in touch with their inner sculptor and it’s easier than you would think. Steve himself left the constrictive boundaries of his corporate life to jump into a more rewarding life, so he well understands how important it is to have a creative outlet. Steve says ‘one of the most enjoyable aspects of this business is seeing people who have no creative genes (their words) turn out amazing sculptures that are better than anything they ever thought they were capable of creating’.
Soft Stone Sculpture’s workshops are currently operating in Sydney, the NSW Central Coast, Newcastle and Brisbane. Participants are encouraged to put their own interpretation on their works and let the outcome evolve, be it tribal, whimsical or in some cases, quirky and let’s say….interesting. Steve reports, ‘we had one man who made a flattened cat with a tyre mark across it – a warning for the neighbour’s cat! Another male participant made his dream woman, a Pamela Anderson torso. He got a little carried away when we showed him how to add on material.’
No matter what your style, Soft Stone sculpting is fun and enjoyable. The product is easy to work with and does not require any firing or expensive tools. The medium is also very forgiving so that really anyone can produce great results. The best thing is that by the end of the day you have learnt a new skill, including design aspects, and can take home your finished sculpture which will last a lifetime to put in that shady garden spot!
For further information on Soft Stone Sculpture workshops, please call 1300 SOFTSTONE (1300 763 878) or visit their website at www.softstonesculptures.com.au.
