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.