11th and 12th Oct

 YES!!

I got 2 days open access at Scottish Sculpture Workshop to finally make these sculptures into bronzes.

Ceramic shell covered birds

 

 

 

Bottoms ground off the shells so the wax can be heated and poured out.

Gas torch was used to heat the bottom until the cup came out and then they were put into a oven type thing and heated until the wax poured out.

Now ready to take the bronze!

All the safety gear on while the bronze was heating up, then the pour.

Such a beautiful colour.

After knocking off the ceramic shell, they are ready to cut off from the feeders.

Lots of chasing to do getting rid of the last of the shell.

 

and here they are, ready to add the patina and shine up.

Whew! what a journey.

Friday 17th

My last day until I'm able to do the bronze pour - dates to be confirmed. It has been such a long drawn out process but I'm still grateful to VACMA for choosing my project and funding my learning. 

Today it was more of the same - playing with wax - managed to get most of the pieces attached but had to get Eden to finish a couple for me as I was getting nowhere fast.

They are to stay at SSW and Eden will coat them in a ceramic shell which is a series of layers which have to dry between each dipping, quite a process.

The rest of my time was spent making a mould for the oak leaf ball.

oak leaf ball with silicone layer, I ahd to add another chemical so that the mixture could be brushed on.

and the next part of the process - building up a clay wall so the plaster can be added.

Here it is! the first half siliconed and plaster base added. Underneath all that is half a white plaster oak leaf ball covered in cling film.