Meanderings of a Maine Artist... sculptor Cynthia Smith

Presto Change-o ... Translating Clay into Bronze

12/21/2012

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Ribbon ... 8 1/2" w ... ceramic

Ribbon ... 9" w ... bronze

Having developed an affinity for the material and the process, I have, on occasion, utilized bronze to revisit and recreate a few of my past works. I am partial to the weight and permanence of bronze, the character of the metal's surface and its patina. The translation into bronze can produce a range of transformational effects on the visual impact of a piece that can range from subtle to definitive.
The processes I utilized to recreate the pieces varied, depending on the medium of the original. When I chose to recreate the ceramic 'Ribbon' (at left), I simply replicated the piece in wax, since the loop in the center, the holes, and the thinness of the clay precluded the possibility of making a mold. In the case of 'Peccata Patris', also made of clay, the original form was compact and had no severe undercuts, so I was able to create a successful two part rubber mold using Brush-On 35 (a Smooth-On product). To see other translations into bronze, check back to my blog entries on 8/27/12 ( A Chip Off the Ol' Block ) and 9/26/12 ( Menage A Trois ...).

Peccata Patris ... 4" h ... ceramic

Peccata Patris ... 4" h ... bronze

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Rebound ... Where Rubber Makes the Mold

12/12/2012

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I have utilized a variety of mold making techniques at various times in my work, and choosing the right process and mold material was a key factor in achieving a successful result. Sometimes success, however, is the result of timing and circumstance. When preparing to cast some square reliefs made out of Klean Klay (a great sulfur-free non-hardening modeling clay but, sadly, the company has gone out of business...*see below), I decided to utilize mold material left over from a previous project. The material is called Rebound 25 Silicone Rubber and is a product of the Smooth-On Company. It is normally used as a brush-on product, but, since I had it, I decided to try pouring it as a block mold. My goal was to make multiple casts in plaster of my original four Klean Klay designs, and then arrange the units in varying pattern combinations. The Rebound 25 proved to be a good choice. The silicone rubber and its flexibility allowed for easy removal of casts, and the casts themselves were of uniform consistency. The molds have proven to be extremely durable - I have made over 75 units with no change in the quality of the castings. Two of the finished pieces, 'Circle'n Square... Daylight' and 'Circle 'n Square... After Dark' will be going to the River Arts Gallery 'Black, White and Gray' juried show that I mentioned in my 12/5 blog entry.

Rubber molds & plaster castings

Circle ' n Square... Daylight

Circle 'n Square... After Dark

*Found the following possible Klean Klay substitutes online... Van Aken's Klean Klay Alternative (at American Fine Arts Supplies) and Sculptex Modeling Clay (at Reynolds Advanced Materials). Both come in 1 pound blocks and in 3 different hardnesses. Comparably priced. Have not personally tried either of these yet.

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Casting in Plaster ... A Relief but not a Waste

12/5/2012

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Original clay relief enclosed by wooden mold frame boards

Plaster cast from clay relief enclosed in wooden mold frame. The first layer of plaster was tinted blue to differentiate it from the white of the final plaster cast during mold removal.

'Close-Up' is a plaster relief that I will be entering in the upcoming 'Black, White & Gray' juried show at the River Arts Gallery in Damariscotta. The original image was made out of clay and then cast in plaster in a plaster
waste mold. Usually the waste mold process only allows you to make one cast of an original piece since the mold is chipped away to reveal the casting, however, in this case, I was able to remake additional molds from the clay original. I took particular care to make sure that the frame boards and the clay were coated with separator (a liquid mixture called 'waterglass', made up of of 4 parts water & 6 parts sodium silicate) so that the mold and cast would not stick to each other. The separator, combined with the lack of texture and undercuts in the design, allowed me to remove the plaster cast without causing any major damage to the clay surface. I was then able to make 2 more molds, one of which I later used to create a wax copy of the image. I eventually cast that wax in bronze (see below). I expect to utilize that 2nd mold in the future in some way ...and if I need more - I still have the clay original stored away in plastic!

Final plaster cast of relief and mounting board

'Close-Up' mounted on painted board... 15 1/4" x 16 x 3"

'Artist Close Up'... 11" x 11" x 2" ...bronze

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Presto Change-o ... Translating Clay into Bronze

Rebound ... Where Rubber Makes the Mold

Casting in Plaster ... A Relief but not a Waste

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