Article in English: Soapstone's texture resembles a dry bar of soap and is extremely malleable.  It will easily form a shape with little force.  Soapstone is so soft that you can carve it with harder rocks you find in your backyard; you can even use your fingernail to carve it.  It also comes in many colors like grey, green, and black.  Use soapstone if you are making a small sculpture that won't be easily damaged if you accidentally scratch or nudge it. You can find soapstone and other soft rocks at a local stone carving supplies stores.  For example, in California there is a store called "Stone Sculptors Supplies" that sells soft stones for carving.  Alternately, you can acquire your stones from a stone yard.  Know, however, that these stones are typically used for construction purposes (building counter tops, for example) and may be harder than artistically provided stones.  Know that some soapstone contains asbestos, which can cause lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma if inhaled. Alabaster comes in a wide range of colors and is available from many suppliers.  Alabaster is best if you want a colorful, sturdy sculpture. It can come in variety of colors like white, grey, beige, orange, yellows, reds, and translucent. Although alabaster is generally harder than soapstone, it still carves easily.  It is the ideal choice for new sculptors since it will still retain its shape without requiring specialized tools or strenuous effort. An alternative to alabaster is limestone, which carves easily and regularly but is not available in a wide range of colors (typical limestone comes in different shades of grey).  Also, limestone can be difficult to sculpt if you get the wrong piece.  Limestone is slightly harder and doesn't polish as well as alabaster. Carving these stones requires specialized tools like electric grinders and hammers.  Granite and marble are usually sculpted in large quantities since they are most optimal for statues and other large items that require durability. Working with large slabs of hard stones requires...

Summary in Indonesian:
Pilih “soapstone” jika Anda seorang pemula dan hanya memiliki perlengkapan yang sedikit untuk mengukir. Beli pualam untuk kombinasi terbaik dari daya tahan dan kelunakan. Hindari batu yang sangat keras seperti batu granit dan marmer. Pilih batu yang tidak jauh besar dari pahatan yang ingin Anda buat. Amati batu Anda untuk melihat keretakan dan celah.