There are rock shops in Metairie and Lafayette that can sell you different kinds of stone to practice on. Probably others closer that I don't know about. They can also tell you what kinds of native stone would work in your area and where to find it. Try serpentine too. You may want to work your way up to marble, it's pretty unforgiving. Most good art supply stores can sell you carving tools. The Red River Sculpture Society includes some sculptors in Louisiana, and they should be able to steer you to some lessons. They have a good web site. Good luck.

Shades of African Stone

The African continent is both the origin and inspiration for African artists. This unique continent is in the midst of a contemporary renaissance of creativity and growth, enthused by appealing styles and vibrant colours. Warm and vivid shades, along with the original African culture are ever present, while providing novelty as well as optimism into one’s life.

Inspired by nature

The beauty of nature is reflected best in its remarkable palette of colours. Most of the African tribes and cultures have long felt the true power that originates from the earth’s soil, trees, and stones.

The power of the stone

The Southern African stone deposits are amongst the oldest in the world, allowing skilled artists to make use of rare stones to create remarkable works of art. Stone is a natural material, therefore colours and ‘veins’ tend to vary slightly, depending on location.

Shona artists make use of the stone found in Zimbabwe, Serpentine being the most common. Other stones include: Opalstone, Verdite, Red Sandstone and Soapstone. More than 250 specific combinations of serpentine have been identified in Zimbabwe. Depending on the colours, striations and contours of the stone, the artist develops a connection with the stone whilst sculpting, and, depending on the form, may carve a sculpture without the use of sketches or drawings. Typically, the stone dictates to the artist the subject that will emerge from within its core.

The beauty of the stone allows Shona pieces to represent people, animals, plants, and social values with emotional expressions and creative elegance.

Certain stones are becoming rare and, in turn, are difficult to find. A Verdite, “the green stone of Africa”, is an example of an ever decreasing type of stone.

Unusual yet beautiful, Verdite consists of a variety of changing patterns and shades, ranging from golden browns to rich emerald blues and greens.

It is known that Verdite is found only in Southern Africa, with Zimbabwe’s Verdite being of extremely high quality.  Verdite is sought after by international art collectors and investors who have been quick to recognise its scarcity and intrinsic value.

It is clear that Verdite is a stone of exceptional beauty, making it a genuine investment. It is unfortunate that Verdite is fast becoming rare and difficult to find, and, consequently, carvings from this stone will increase in value.

Certain stones are a beautiful and mysterious. With its variety of shades ranging from pearly grey, to dark black and even some rare shades of red is Africastone - the marble of Africa

Africastone is a unique deposit of metamorphosed clay, classified as a type of pyrophyillite. When the world was new and the ever-changing surface was subject to intense heat and raging storms, the lava in the dominion system attracted this sedimentary deposit.

The only know deposits on our earth are in the Gauteng, South Africa, the area where the richest gold mines in the world are located.

The master sculptors of this mysterious continent include Casper Darare and Fanuel Mutemasango, who were the first men ever to lay their talents on this rare stone.

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