Twin brothers at Ehtseo Ayha School in Deline created soapstone carvings as their contribution to the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 Heritage Fair on April 12.

Marcus and Kayden Neyelle, 12, each used a soapstone carving kit to carefully create their carvings, with each boy selecting a different animal to try and represent in stone.

Kayden chose a dolphin while Marcus chose a turtle SA国际影视传媒渂ecause it looked fun,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The goal was not only to teach the boys how to carve, but to get them to explain each step of their technique as part of their project, said teacher Danielle Howatt.

SA国际影视传媒�We decided to have them do a soapstone carving and talk about the process,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey're super hands-on kids and we had some kits that they used. They figured out how to do all the carving themselves and then finally oiling them.SA国际影视传媒�

After the carving is complete, the artist must use sandpaper and oil to polish the stone, Marcus said.

SA国际影视传媒�You use the sandpaper and you make it smooth and you use oil to make it shiny and colourful,SA国际影视传媒� he explained.

Marcus used a rasp tool to shape any sharp edges that remained after sandpapering, he also said.

SA国际影视传媒�You use the rasp and make it round,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

It took Kayden four days to complete his dolphin, the final hours spent making the carving as glossy as he could.

SA国际影视传媒�You scratch it with the hard sandpaper and any lines, you scrape it really hard and it comes off,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

He is still trying to decide whether to keep his finished carving or to give away as a gift.

Marcus took a little longer with his carving, finishing it after seven days.

He said creating the shape of the turtle was his favourite part of the process.

For Kayden, putting the finishing touches on the carving was the part he enjoyed most.

SA国际影视传媒�I liked sanding with the sandpaper and doing the oil, I liked those two,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

He also liked how carving allowed him to express his creativity.

Howatt said she was impressed with the boysSA国际影视传媒� carvings, but also how well they mastered each step along the way.

SA国际影视传媒�They did really well,SA国际影视传媒� she said.