DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR In soapstone. Roughly 6" (15 cm) X 6" (15 cm) X 9" (23 cm)
Approximately three months ago I decided that I'd rather carve than write. I had a stroke a year ago tomorrow and writing was good motor skills therapy but I don't really enjoy it very much. I know that finding any Tanzanian Meerschaum to carve was beyond my means so I found some soapstone for sale on line and when it arrived I set up a temporary studio in the dining room.
After about two months of roughing work I thought I might try doing the arches in the Coliseum. Well, I got carried away and realized, too late, that since I've got so much heavy work yet to do around it I was making it too fragile . The finished walls will be less than 1/16" thick. No irreversible damage yet but I've had to completely encase it in candle wax until the rest of DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR is all done. Then I can finish the Coliseum.
But I was encouraged. My stamina is up to about three and a half hours total in two sessions. My right arm is still pretty spastic and wearing a magnifying visor is hard on my neck.
As you can see I've just barely started the Great Wall of China and I haven't even started the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris and the Moai head from Easter Island. I have finished roughing out the Ziggurat and Pyramid. This shot doesn't show the partly roughed out Mayan pyramid temple. In the far corner will be a three inch tall me carving my signature in the base.
