PROCESS
My sculpting process begins with an emerging idea and perhaps a few lines or sketches on paper. I then use wire to build an armature to create the form in space. I have a rough idea of where I’m going, but it only becomes clear as I start to build. It’s more like an evolving process, a journey of discovery for me, which I only continue if it feels right.
I enjoy working in both clay and plaster, they are very different to work with and both have advantages depending on the sculpture being made and the expression I’m looking for. When working with clay the metal armature has to come first to support the soft, heavy clay. The armature then gets covered in clay and gradually refined until the finished piece emerges.
The process with plaster is similar, but plaster has the the strength to support itself, so the armature is not always metal, it can be other materials like polystyrene, expanding foam, hessian etc
Once the sculpture is refined and completed, it needs to be moulded, which is a skilled and complicated process in itself. The sculpture is covered in silicone rubber, which is divided into sections. These silicone rubber sections are then covered in a fibre glass casing to keep it solid. Once finished, all the sections are taken apart and the casting process can begin.
Up to this point it is the same process for both Bronze and Bronze resin. However the casting process from here is very different.
“I sculpt the feeling of being alive in the moment, of seeing the rising sun, the bird flying overhead or a wild flower on a cliff top.”
Bronze sculpture is created using the lost‑wax process, which is a highly skilled, complex and labour intensive method. This in addition to the cost of the metal, results in bronzes being more expensive. Bronze has a richer depth of colour than resin, which develops beautifully with age, it is much heavier, cool to the touch, and will last for generations.
Bronze Resin (also called cold‑cast bronze) is made from a mixture of bronze powder and resin. It is also a very skilled process, but it can be cast more quickly and at lower cost than solid bronze. The sculpture is lighter and if damaged can break more easily, although it’s also easy to repair. If not waxed the surface will dull over the years, but it can be displayed outdoors through all the seasons and will be enjoyed for many years.
Bronze and Bronze Resin can be patinated in different colours, so the colour depends on the patination used, not the material it is made from. I can cast any piece in shades of either green verdigris or the classic brown.
I also sometimes use Iron Resin which gives a warm rusted red patination.
There are a lot of possibilities for coloration, so please ask if you have any questions or preferences.
How to maintain your sculpture:
- Avoid placing your sculpture under an oak tree as tannins leech from oaks and can stain.
- Clean and wax your sculpture once a year (or more depending on local conditions, like being next to the coast).
- Clean your sculpture using water and a soft brush.
- Do not use abrasive brushes, nylon pads or wire wool pads, use a soft nylon brush
- Do not use cleaning chemicals on your sculpture.
- After cleaning with water, dry the sculpture with an old towel to prevent streaks
- Wax your sculpture using a clear wax like ‘Black Bison Wax – Neutral’ if you like the colour your sculpture is at the moment.
- Or if the colour looks a little faded then use a wax with some stain in it, like ‘Black Bison Wax – Medium Oak’
- Waxing is easiest to do on a hot sunny day because the heat helps with application of the wax. Apply a thin layer of wax using a stippling motion (a dabbing downward vertical motion) with a paint brush. This helps the wax reach inside the hollows without leaving a lot of wax in them. Allow the warmth of the sculpture to melt the wax into the details.
- Buff the sculpture once the wax has dried using a soft bristled brush, like a boot or shoe brush and finish with a lint-free cloth.
- If your sculpture is made of Bronze Resin, take care with your brush when buffing as it is easy to bash your sculpture with the handle. You may wish to consider using a cloth instead.
