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Direct Stone Carving • Abstract & Stylized Figurative Sculpture
Original Stone Sculptures by Sal Orlando
Discover a collection of original stone sculptures created through the art of direct stone carving. Each piece is carved without models or sketches, allowing the natural form, movement, and energy of the stone to guide the final sculpture.
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Most art goes to sleep when the sun goes down, while the world I create wakes up and comes to life.
FOUNDER
Let me know if you see anything you like.
Welcome to my Direct Stone Carvings! Take your time and Browse.
Sculpting is an art of subtraction, removing material to expose the form from within. I am a direct stone carver, meaning I do not make models or sketch first. After working a design concept over and over in my mind, I am eventually ready to bring my vision to reality. It is not until I connect with the stone that I can release my creative energy and the stone’s potential.
Flame alabaster from Utah, white marble from Turkey. Laminated with black pigmented epoxy.
Let me know if you see anything you like. ....Kindly Contact Me
Explore My Stone Carving / Sculpture Works
“The internal lighting added a whole new dimension to the sculpture, revealing shadows and forms that continue to captivate us.”
— Robert & Janet
Gift to Lillian
The memory of my mother Lillian was an inspiration while carving.
Turning Over a New Leaf
Carrara marble This stylized leaf evokes a sense of classic elegance.
Hank the Nudibranch
Various stones, marble, alabaster, calcite, and onyx, laminated and shaped.
Gumdrop
Abstract carving of translucent orange calcite encircling a red/orange disc
The Direct Stone Carving Process
From Stone to Sculpture
This short film captures the intimate process behind Original Stone Sculptures by Sal Orlando, carving directly into stone. With minimal reference, each movement responds to the material itself, revealing form through patience, instinct, and touch.
Sculptural Editions
Limited, museum-quality sculptural editions crafted in small numbers. Each piece is meticulously finished to honor the original vision.
Original Works
One-of-a-kind stone sculptures carved directly from natural material. Each work is an unrepeatable exploration of form and movement.
Custom Commissions
Bespoke stone sculptures created through close collaboration with the collector. Each commission begins with a shared concept.
From Ancient Hands to Modern Vision
​​The Art of Revealing Form
For millennia humans have satisfied their drive to create by carving figures from stone. Discoveries dating back as far as 35,000 years ago show early man emulated the physical attributes of the human form, as evidenced by the famous Venus figurines. I too have an innate need to reflect the natural world around me. I do this through carving stone art as well. Tools and stone carving techniques have evolved through the ages though the basic principles have not. Percussion and abrasion are the two foundational methods to remove material and reveal the figure within.
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As Michelangelo was so famously quoted as saying,
“In every block of marble, I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it.”
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Stone sculptors can broadly be categorized as either indirect stone carvers or direct stone carvers. An indirect carver typically makes a maquette from wax, clay, or papier-mâché, building up or paring down that material until their desired form is achieved. They then utilize various tools to measure and transfer those dimensions onto a block of rock. In contrast, a direct stone carver attacks the stone directly.
The direct artist might sketch or refer to an object for reference but they typically hold the image loosely in their mind. The transfer of that image onto a block of rock is typically not as precise but the direct technique allows for more freedom of expression in my opinion. I have forced myself to learn and use the specialized measuring instruments necessary for the indirect carving method. I was frustrated and found little pleasure from the process. As a direct carver I find freedom to explore the boundaries of my imagination.
Ultimately, sculpting is an art of subtraction, removing material to discover and expose the form within. Whether it be a statue of an icon, an abstract geometric form, or a stylized whimsical representation of one of nature’s wonders, stone sculptors ROCK!
Visions in Stone by Sal Orlando
ABSTRACT & FIGURATIVE STONE SCULPTURE
​​Inspired by the natural world. Shaped by intuition. Each sculpture emerges through direct carving, uncovering the form already living within the stone.
Decades of Exploration
An evolving practice shaped by time and experience
Original Stone Carvings
Each piece carved individually from natural stone
Process-Driven Work
Guided by intuition, material, and discovery
Personal Collections
Works held by private collectors and close communities
Testimonials
Experiencing the Sculpture
Stone speaks differently to every viewer. The following impressions reflect the quiet dialogue that unfolds between the sculpture and those who encounter it.
