Un-veiling Stone Carving

February 15, 2022

By Katrina Klaphake

Stone-carving is a newer part of the high school art curriculum, taught by Elizaveta McFall (art teacher, alum and parent). She was mentored by Laura Shope (former HS Coordinator, art teacher and parent) who introduced it four years ago as a new artistic experience. Elizaveta points out that this art class contrasts all the other art experiences at RSSAA, as it is a process of unveiling and revealing, where most of our art classes are adding and layering.

Elizaveta has students “meet” their stones and asks them to see what is hidden in the stone.

Students unveil the shape hidden in the stone. Their job is to enhance the natural curves and waves through their carving, not take the stone and make it into something else. Our juniors are ready to create something in this more abstract way of seeing things.

Stone-carving process from raw stone to artistic expression

Another unique aspect of this class is that students use most of their senses when carving their stones.

After they’ve seen the shape buried in the stone, they establish their workspace outside. The carving and sanding are very physical, and students need to take breaks during class. A pleasant “stone song” clicks along as they carve with a variety of steel tools. The stones are finished through eight levels of wet-sanding from gritty to fine. Smelling the final beeswax-polished creation is very satisfying to students. 

Social emotional learning happens as students learn how to successfully critique their classmate’s work. Critiques are introduced where the artist shows their favorite part of the piece and a part that is unresolved. This opens the door to advice from classmates, so the artist can receive it in a constructive way.

As an artist, Elizaveta was eager to explore this art form in her own studio. The stone supplier from upstate NY has become inspired by her enthusiasm and now personally chooses a variety of sizes and range of colors including translucent white, rose, sea green and coffee. She models to our students one of the goals of an artist, to create something beautiful, new, and interesting.