Creating lifelike portraits in stone is a timeless art form that requires mastery of various techniques. The most common stone sculpture methods for portraits include:

1. Roughing Out – The initial stage where large chunks of stone are removed to establish the basic shape of the portrait using chisels and mallets.

2. Blocking In – Refining the rough form by defining major features such as the head, jawline, and facial proportions.

3. Detailing – Using finer tools like rasps and rifflers to carve intricate facial expressions, hair textures, and subtle contours.

4. Smoothing & Polishing – Abrasives and polishing compounds are applied to enhance the stone’s natural luster and bring out depth in the portrait.

5. Incising & Relief Carving – For added dimensionality, some sculptors use shallow or deep carving techniques to emphasize shadows and highlights.

Each technique requires precision, patience, and an understanding of stone properties like marble, limestone, or granite. Master sculptors often combine these methods to achieve stunning realism in their portrait sculptures.