Next Step in the Bronzing Process

Last night I finished spruing my piece and started the dipping process. The thicker red wax provides a path for the metal to eventually flow into the tree trunks and lids while the thinner wax sticks act as vents for any trapped gasses that may float to the top. After I finished attaching the red wax, I sprayed my piece down with Mop N Glow to make it sticky. Next, I dipped it into a vat of slurry twice allowing it to dry in between dippings. The slurry helps preserve the texture and detailing. Next week, I'll begin dipping it into the sand between slurry dips. Below are some photos I took while waiting for my piece to dry.

Value Study

We're learning about value in my figure drawing class right now. Tonight we had this wonderful model who was heavyset. I loved all the globular shapes in her body. We were really able to practice shadow and reflected light in many areas. Below are two drawings I did tonight. As with nearly everything we've done in this class so far, I wish I had more time to explore each pose further. These were one hour poses, the longest we've had.

Charcoal and Gesso

We did charcoal and gesso drawings in class today. I really like this medium. It's something I'd like to do again on my own. I started and finished during class time today which is a definite improvement for me speed wise. Also, I think I like drawing people better than vegetables. Last week's vegetable drawing was a bit embarrassing.

Joyce Carol Oates

Bronze Tree Trunk Boxes/Bookends

I'm currently working on a pair of bronze tree trunk bookends that are also boxes. Metals are such a neat medium although a little intimidating at first. Like with all things, you just have to take it one step at a time. I've been meaning to document my bronze casting experience, but I keep forgetting to take photos during class. Here are a few that I took last night though.



This is the plaster mold I made after initially sculpting the general shape of the piece with clay. I don't have any photos of the clay though. I then poured wax into the mold. To make the piece hollow, I poured out most of the wax after a shell had cooled and hardened around the outside edges. To make the bottom, I poured some wax onto a wet surface to make a sheet which was cut out and soldered to the shell. Next, I carved texture into the tree trunk and made little animals to go on the lids.











This last picture is the step I'm on now. It's called sprewing. I attach the red wax sticks to the piece in order to create a path for the bronze to flow.

Here is a great site that explains the whole process:
http://www.modernsculpture.com/bronze.htm

Self Portrait

Here's the self portrait I drew in graphite. Since I can't seem to get the scan to look right, I took a photograph of it and it looks better I think.

Illustrations

Here are a few drawings I included in my portfolio for Pratt.

Vy's Wedding Invitations

Vy's invites were very similar to Anh and Thu's in design. She LOVES the color green and we picked an illustration to go along with her very art nouveau-ish dress.

This card was printed on very sheer paper and as an overlay to the Vietnamese version below:


The rest of the cards were printed on 80lb white linen paper.