The process begins with a maquette in a resistant material, such as plaster, bronze, stone or resin. A maquette with well defined masses and details facilitates the reproduction.
In a purely geometric work or one which requires only turning on the lathe a maquette is not necessary. Several detailed drawings in scale are sufficient to execute the work.
Stabilizing the right size is fundamental as the amount of enlargement is subject to a considerable number of variables: the installation site, gallery space, client desires, budget, availability of the material chosen, installation problems etc.. All of these things and many others play an important role in the decision to enlarge or to simply reproduce the maquette the same size as the model. In many cases the maquette itself will dictate the size.
On occasion the desired size of enlargement is larger than available blocks in the chosen stone. The most practical solution is to divide the sculpture in two or more horizontal sections. This aspect, of dividing the work into sections is a collaborative process, between the Studio and the artist to decide where and how many cuts are made.