Here are the final stages of the wax to bronze transformation sculpture project. There are 2 other earlier postings showing the progress of the wax and then onto bronze, if you'd like to see those first for the entire process: http://bornagainartist.blogspot.com/2007/10/transformation-wax-sculpture.html and http://bornagainartist.blogspot.com/2007/12/bronze-progress-dogmonkey.html
This is the sculpture of my dog Kura on one side and a monkey on the other side, back-to-back and sleeping peacefully. For now it's titled, "Kura-Monkey". Weighing in at about 14 lbs., 6.5 oz. by itself, it measures at about 10 1/2 inches long x 6 1/2 inches wide x 3 1/4 high...looking at the longest/widest/highest points.
This is a very special piece for me and I took A LOT of time on it at all the stages. It was a challenge to sculpt (as wax) and also creating my concept of only seeing one animal at a time and being surprised by the other as it was seen from different angles. You can see what I mean by all the camera angles I used to photograph it. To only see one animal at a time, it must be viewed at eye level looking straight at it. Later, I had to do a lot of touch ups and surface corrections when it came back as bronze...grinding, polishing, sandblasting, having someone weld trouble spots for me more than once, more grinding, more sandblasting, more polishing, and even got my own Dremel rotary tool set and attachments in the process for the smaller details and narrow spots.
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Inspiration:
I have always loved monkeys and when looking on the internet, found this fantastic adorable image. And, of course my sweet dog Kura (I took all of her photos).
Using power tools to grind, smoothe out, and make any corrections:
The next photo was taken after using one of the tools, which leaves a polished finish. However, this is not fully polished since it was intended for correcting the surface and some areas are not polished. This won't be the final finish of the surface. Though it looks beautiful and like gold! This metal would change colors though as it oxidizes.
Sandblasted finish to check surface, even out, and prep for patina:
Bronze will naturally have a patina over time by exposure to air and elements in the atmosphere. We apply patina with chemicals to speed up the process and to achieve the look we want. Different chemicals have different reactions, so they result in different colors. Also, some are room temperature, while most work with heat (by using the torch). This process is very unpredictable and can be redone after a run through the sandblaster. I spent a lot of time my first run and was satisfied with the results, so didn't have to try again. I had fun doing this. Though the torch isn't comfortable to hold and I was gripping for a while when doing this, so hand was shakey afterwards.
First patina - room temperature - dip into "Liver of Sulpher" (smells like rotten eggs). Had I left it in longer, it would eventually turn black. I chose to pull it out at this purpley color and since I continued with other patinas on top:
The patina booth! A ventilated booth for the torch on the right and chemicals:
VERRRRRY HOTTTTT!!!!
After it cooled and cold wax was applied, it was then buffed. This is to preserve the current patina, which adds a little shine and darkens it a bit as if wet. Wax can also be applied when the metal is still hot, but has darker results than if cold. I wanted to preserve the colors I had as much as possible.
THE FINAL RESULT! :)
I also made the wooden box stand it is on - except for cutting the wood.
(Don't forget...you can click on any image to enlarge, then hit your back button to return back to this page):
Here are the final stages of the first project...the skull assignment. I had to do some major repairs along the way...hat, glasses, and other clay cracks and gaps. There were so many steps along the way and this project was very time consuming and needed a lot of TLC, but well worth it. Love it! It makes me smile and chuckle every time I look at it. The other students working along side me after hours kept asking what was so funny when I laughed to myself. :oDBy the way...ironically I did a Powerpoint presentation that I put together for my final for my computer class on the subject of Death. But that was a lot more somber and sadder than this!
The finished piece after it shrunk in the kiln and put together weighs over 30 lbs. (unable to get exact weight at this time). It measures about 22" long, 14" wide, and 17" high.
SKULLARTIST'S STATEMENT:The assignment for this first clay sculpture was to make a large table top skull (by observing real sized skull models) and transform it somehow. I initially had other ideas...until one day I was working on the skull in class and out of nowhere the idea of googly eyes came to me. I guess it came to me for adding humor and irony to the dark subject of death and since skulls are so widely trendy as being edgy, rebellious, tough, and such. So, then thought I'd add the hat and "fake" moustache. I did research for the accessories online and at a costume shop (appropriately they were well stocked for Halloween at the time), where I purchased googly eyes (see earlier photo of me next to the skull) and a cheap costume hat.
The hat is meant to look worn/used and I sprayed it with a matte finish. The googly eyes were finished with a gloss spray and the glasses' frames sit along the contours of the skull rather than stiffly over the skull. This is since for this story, they have been on the skull awhile and the heat onto the "plastic frames" has caused them to soften and mold against the skull...and it is a part of "him".
Appropriately, my idea evolved into deeper meanings as I created this piece...depending on how the viewer observes this sculpture and how they react to it. Here are some (and you may contribute to this as well):
1. could be what I said above...about seeing a skull or death in a different way. Or dark humor.2. a skull was found and someone dressed it up.3. the person who the skull belonged to was a prankster, causing his death (missing teeth from being punched too many times).4. the person who the skull belonged to was a violent person, causing his death (missing teeth from being punched too many times), and an enemy had the last laugh.
5. the person who the skull belonged to was a either a phony person or actor, who wore many "masks."6. death to my past of going incognito/undercover/acting and on to my rebirth as an artist...such as my name on here "Born Again Artist"~~!!!
I 'm still deciding on a title for him.
Would love to hear feedback on your perceptions, what I mentioned above, and title ideas!First coat of acrylic wash (watered down paint) to seal sculpture, epoxy and plaster for repairs:
Layering of many colors by dry brushing:
Attaching the "springs" I made out of armature wire:
Attaching the "googly eye" cups to the "springs" made of wires:
FINISHED!!!!:
EXCITING NEWS!!!
MY FIRST ART SHOWINGS!
1.
My charcoal drawing of Ethan Hawke (scroll down blog to see it in an earlier posting) will be in the Big Bang Student Art Show in San Francisco. Here's the announcement...
This is a big show that includes art from all majors.
I won't be able to attend the Opening Reception on December 8.
It will be open for viewing at the address below.
Big Bang Art Show
December 9, 2007 - January 3, 2008
daily
9am-6pm
Academy of Art University
601 Brannan St. (at 5th St.)
San Francisco, CA 94107
415-614-1174 for more info.
2.
My charcoal drawing of the hands, which I just posted here below will be in the Foundations Winter Art Show on Tuesday, December 11, 2007, 5:30pm-7:00pm. If it will last longer than that, I'll fix the info. here. I plan on being there that date and time. This show is for work from Foundations Dept. classes this semester only (Fall 2007). These are the classes that teach art basics and traditional techniques (taken 4 that you've seen work on here from: Analysis of Form (drawing), Figure Modeling, Color & Design, and Figure Drawing). In addition to viewing the work, there will be food, drinks, a raffle, and music.
Foundations Winter Show
Tues., Dec. 11
5:30-7pm
Academy of Art University
466 Townsend St., 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA
----
p.s. My sculptures will have to be in later showings since they are not completed yet and need them for my final critique in a couple of weeks.
For my figure drawing class, I needed to draw hands in charcoal from a photo reference. Here's my final drawing below. This was done in record time considering how nicely it came out! I worked on it up close so much without standing back to look at it from a distance. So when I got it to class and pinned it up with all the others, I was in awe how good it came out and photographic it looked...and only noticed it when I took a break and looked at it from a distance. I spent a little more time on it for detail touch-ups and decided to do a unique border.The hands belong to the famous dancer Merce Cunningham who has a dance company by his name and is older now. The original photo portrait of his face and hands was taken by Annie Leibovitz in New York, 1994. I edited it to emphasize the hands only. I love their gesture, body language, and the dramatic lighting. Also, he has age spots and wrinkles which adds that much more character to the photo and piece I made.
First we made a small mock up of our abstract design in clay (it's at the bottom center of the photo below). Then we mixed plaster (it feels great to stir with my hands/arms-like cool thick cream) and let the water/plaster mixture harden in a cylinder bucket. After getting our blocks out days later, we used mallets, hammers, and chizels (spelling?) to chip away at our abstract sculpture (as in photo) - and made a huge mess! Clean up is fun! haha
I'm still working on it and in the phase of using other smoothing and finishing tools as well. Here's a photo of me at work! I'll post more of this project later.
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The next photo was taken after using one of the tools, which leaves a polished finish. However, this is not fully polished since it was intended for correcting the surface and some areas are not polished. This won't be the final finish of the surface. Though it looks beautiful and like gold! This metal would change colors though as it oxidizes.
Sandblasted finish to check surface, even out, and prep for patina:
Bronze will naturally have a patina over time by exposure to air and elements in the atmosphere. We apply patina with chemicals to speed up the process and to achieve the look we want. Different chemicals have different reactions, so they result in different colors. Also, some are room temperature, while most work with heat (by using the torch). This process is very unpredictable and can be redone after a run through the sandblaster. I spent a lot of time my first run and was satisfied with the results, so didn't have to try again. I had fun doing this. Though the torch isn't comfortable to hold and I was gripping for a while when doing this, so hand was shakey afterwards.
The patina booth! A ventilated booth for the torch on the right and chemicals:
VERRRRRY HOTTTTT!!!!
