I work with soft and medium hard stone, such as soapstone, serpentine and alabaster. The first phase is working with hammer and chisels. This creates the coarse shape. While chopping, I regularly view the emerging image from a distance. When I am satisfied with the rough shape, the second phase follows: grating and filing. Then the image is polished with sandpaper from coarse to fine (hardness 100 to 1200). Finally, the statue is waxed and I marvel at the colors in the stone. An image is successful for me if I have expressed an emotion in the image.