From left, Linda Clarke, her granddaughter Peyton Clarke and artist Ben McCarl apply a tinted layer of Winterstone to a form that will become a model of Robert Munsch character the Paper Bag Princess. The sculpture, a tribute to the local children’s author, is a community project dreamed up by McCarl. The finished statue will be donated to the Guelph Public Library. The Clarkes, who visited McCarl’s studio last week, are among the several community members to have already had a hand in the project. McCarl is hoping many more will help out before the sculpture is finished. He estimates, with the many hands involved, the process will take at least a month. The finished sculpture will be light enough to transport easily, but its heavy base will prevent it from tipping. The Winterstone, which looks a little like messy clay when wet, will be further refined by the artist and polished to a smooth stone finish when dry. To read about the sculpture’s progress so far, visit McCarl’s blog at www.benmmccarl.com/blog. Those interested in taking part in the project are asked to email McCarl at pburrows.bmccarl@gmail.com.