Guide to commissioning a carving
I am always open to new commissions. Please contact me if you would like to know more about commissioning a piece.
First Conversation and Planning
Some people have a very clear idea of what they are looking for and others have only a feeling that is hard to express. I always like to sit face-to-face to talk about the project and what you are looking for. Every person is different and every piece is different and I can help to gently guide this process. We will talk about things like: what is the piece for? Is it for a memorial or a celebration? What must be included? Is there a deadline for the project? Where will the object ultimately be located? What type and color and size of slate might we use?
If you live too far away to come to my studio this conversation can happen over email, phone or zoom.
How much will it cost?
This is a perfectly natural question but impossible to answer before there are definite plans for the project. If you have a very limited or specific budget please let me know that up front and I can see what I can do to accommodate that budget. But the size of the piece, complexity of the design, and quantity of carving all contribute to the huge variability of the costs of the project. The final cost is only determined when the design is completed.
If we decide to proceed from this point you make a payment to reserve your place in my schedule and pay for the designing of the project.
Design Process
Based on the ideas and desires we talked about during the planning conversation I draw the designs and lettering of the carving.
When the design is completed you will receive a full-scale drawing of the project as well as a detailed description of the finished piece.
At this point you need to check that the there are no corrections needed to the drawing or the project plan. A drawing is easy to change compared to a carving. If everything is correct you return an approved copy of the drawing and contract with a down-payment of half the cost of the material and carving. If the project is a monument any permissions necessary from the cemetery must be completed by the client at this point as well.
Carving
I order the stone and when it arrives I begin in earnest to bring the drawing to life in the stone. The drawing is transferred to the surface of the stone and the carving begins. Though I remain as true as possible to the original drawing, the carving always looks subtly different, more dramatic and solid by its very nature, and better. The carving is a slow process, done entirely by my two hands with a mallet and chisel. Small projects take weeks, large projects can take many months.
Installation
Once the carving is complete I arrange to do the installation. For monuments, ideally I have two days to do the installation so that I may pour my own specialized footing the first day and install the stone the second day. Outdoor installations must take place in the warmer months when the temperatures stay mostly above freezing. You might want the installation to be complete before you see the finished project, or you may want to be more involved in the installation. The decision is absolutely yours.