I usually start with a very loose idea in my head, like a vague shape, then as I begin to carve the first block of stone the skeleton starts to appear. I don’t sketch a detailed skeleton beforehand; I let it evolve as I feel the weight and flow of the material. It’s a dance between what the stone says and what I feel needs to be there. If I find a flaw or a new curve, I’ll carve away a bit more to adjust the structure. That way the piece grows in a natural way, and I can keep refining until it feels right.