These Incredible Hand-Carved Stones Look Like They’re Made of Soft Putty

Stone Sculptures by José Manuel Castro López

Rocks don’t exactly have the most malleable surfaces, but the work of artist José Manuel Castro López might make you think otherwise. He carves real stones to make them look as though they have soft, fabric-like wrinkles and creases. The illusion is awe-inspiring and speaks to the reverence that López has for his subject. “My relationship with the stone is not only physical but also magical,” López tells My Modern Met. “They manifest, they obey me, we understand each other.”

Starting with ordinary pieces of quartz or granite, the talented sculptor always takes into consideration the natural shape and texture of the stone before he starts carving. “I adapt to its essence,” López explains. “I take advantage of its qualities and I try to get the best out of it.” Not only does he create incredibly fluid forms from stone, but he always makes sure to restore the rock’s original texture. “I remove where it needs to be removed and I leave where it needs to be left,” he says. “And I remove the trace of the tool with textures and oxides.” The resulting stone sculptures look as though they’ve been slowly eroded and formed by nature's elements rather than created by man.

Check out López’s incredible stone sculptures below and find more of his work on Facebook.

Artist José Manuel Castro López carves stones to make them look as though they have soft, fabric-like surfaces.

Stone Sculpture

Stone Sculpture

Stone Sculptures by José Manuel Castro López

Stone Sculptures by José Manuel Castro López

Stone Sculptures by José Manuel Castro López

Stone Sculptures by José Manuel Castro López

Stone Sculptures by José Manuel Castro López

Stone Sculpture

José Manuel Castro López: Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by José Manuel Castro López.

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Emma Taggart

Emma Taggart is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. Originally from Northern Ireland, she is an artist now based in Berlin. After graduating with a BA in Fashion and Textile Design in 2013, Emma decided to combine her love of art with her passion for writing. Emma has contributed to various art and culture publications, with an aim to promote and share the work of inspiring modern creatives. While she writes every day, she’s also devoted to her own creative outlet—Emma hand-draws illustrations and is currently learning 2D animation.
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