Blog

Soapstone can feel soft and forgiving, but it still has its own natural structure. Unlike timber, soapstone does not have a straight grain that always runs in one direction. It may have layers, veins, mineral bands and weak planes that change the way your tools move across the surface. When you carve against these natural directions, the stone can turn rough, flaky or unpredictable. We find that learning to read the stone before shaping it gives...

Spring weather in Central Victoria can turn quickly. One day feels steady and mild, the next can bring sudden heat or a chilly afternoon wind. If you are working with casting moulds, these swings can cause more trouble than expected. The way your materials set, cure, and hold up to changes often depends on how stable the environment stays while you are working. We have seen how even a small temperature jump or drop can shift the whole outcome of...

Swatch books are one of those quiet studio tools that end up doing a lot of heavy lifting. Whether you're checking how a red pigment spreads in water or comparing brands of charcoal, a good swatch can save you mistakes later. Like brushes or palettes, not all swatch books are the same. You'll find some that are machine-made with neat bindings and papers that follow one texture all the way through. Others are handmade, often stitched by artists or...