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IN THE STUDIO
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HOME...BRONZE SCULPTURE...CERAMIC SCULPTURE....STUDIO & PROCESS....MIXED MEDIA....EMAIL.....503-572-3049 |
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THE PROCESS Making the Clay Form 1. Develop an idea and make a sketch. 2. Make an armature using 1/4” to 1/8” aluminum wire for the frame and screen for a basic under carriage. It is supported by an external pipe armature. 3. Apply plasticine, an oil based clay that does not shrink or dry out, over the armature. In a large piece, sections of the sculpture are made separately, then attached with wire 4. Build a plywood box to secure and protect the delicate plasticine forms during its six hour road trip to the foundry. At the Foundry 1. Cut the original plasticine piece into workable sections 2. Paint each section with multiple coats of rubber latex to build an exact negative of the original Plasticine piece. 3. Make a plaster Mother Mould over the rubber latex mould which holds the latex securely in place. 4. After the plaster and latex moulds have cured, remove the original plasticine piece. 5. Reassemble the latex and plaster moulds. Making a Wax Replica 1. Pour hot liquid wax into the latex mould, swish around to cover all surfaces and pour out leaving a thin wax coating in the mould. This process in repeated several time until a hollow wax replica approximately 1/4” thick is created. 2. When cooled open the plaster and latex mounds to reveal a wax replica of the original plasticine piece. The latex/plaster moulds can be used may times for multiple wax castings. 3. Clean and rework the wax pieces to exactly replicate the original plasticine piece. 4. Attach wax pouring spouts and wax air vents to the wax replica. 5. Immerse the wax piece in a high fire silica sludge which completely encases the wax form. 6. After an elaborate, controlled drying process that can take many days, bake the hardened silica shells in an oven. The wax melts out leaving a hollow negative of the original piece. Finally the Bronze 1. Heat bronze to around 2400 degrees and carefully pour into the pouring spout of the hollow silica shell. 2.After the bronze has hardened and cooled hammer away the silica shell from the bronze. 3. Remove the vents and spouts, clean all sections and bronze weld them together. 4. Rework the areas of weld lines and vent spouts to make them disappear. Patina & Finish 1. Sandblast piece to ready it for application of a patina (color). 3. Bake Chemicals onto the bronze in multiple layers and set with a heating torch. 4. Spray lacquer and then hand rub wax over the piece for a final finish. A Base Often the sculptures need a base for stability and physical support. The granite bases are cut, polished, and drilled for each sculpture. |
 ... Making a bronze sculpture is a many step process. The ability to make a Reusable mould adds to the complexity of the process but allows multiples of the same sculpture. This page will help you understand the process. Rollin Wingman, shown in its plasticine state with its metal armature which
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 ... Plasticine studies |
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Chemicals are baked onto the bronze on multiple layers and set with a heating torch. Aluminum foil protects the body of Wingman while the patina chemicals are being applied to the base. |
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Back from the foundry, three Rollin Wingman stand in the studio.
Each one has been given a different patina. |
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Boone uses Valley Bronze of Oregon in Joseph, Oregon |
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