C.V.SmithARTWORKS
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Sculptures
    • Bronze
    • Clay / Apoxie Clay
    • Plaster
    • Wood
    • Stone
    • SLIDESHOW
  • Galleries
  • Contact
  • Book
  • River Arts
  • BRAF
  • Saltwater Artists
  • CMCA
  • Yarmouth Art Festival

Bronze Sculpture ... Chased, Drilled, Tapped and Stacked

1/12/2015

0 Comments

 
    The next steps in working toward the completion of the bronze piece that I discussed in my blog entries for 11/12/14 and 12/15/14 involved finishing the chase work on the base and then preparing the parts for attachment. The textured top surface and sides of the 5 1/2 inch wide bronze disk base had just a few very small bronze air bubbles that needed to be removed. The underside had 3 gate attachment points that needed to be ground down and smoothed. After drilling a hole through the center of the disk, I buffed all of its surfaces with a medium grit Dremel buffing wheel.
     My plan was to attach the disk to the figure portion of the sculpture with a threaded rod and nut, so my next step was to use a tap and die to create a threaded hole in the bottom of the small disk at the base of the figure. The tricky part of this was to make the hole deep enough to allow the rod to be inserted securely without it breaking through the top surface of the small disk. Fortunately, the curved structure that the figure was attached to was in the center of the small disk, and because of that I was able to drill to the depth that I needed.
     I knew that I wanted to elevate the piece, but I wasn't sure how high I wanted it or what I wanted to mount it on. I had a piece of 5/8" thick wenge that I decided could be used for this purpose. Wenge is very dark wood and I felt it would provide an unobtrusive visual 'lift' that the bronze needed. I cut it into a round that was about 3/4" smaller than the bronze disk and drilled a central hole with a recess on the bottom that would allow for the attachment of the nut to the end of the rod. I branded it with my initials and gave it a couple of thin coats of satin polyurethane. Finally I cut the threaded rod to the length needed to extend from the figure through the bronze and wedge base disks, and connected the three pieces. I may eventually change the wooden part of the base, but, for now, I am opting for simplicity. Next I have to make a decision about patina... possibly green... blue-green... hmmm?  
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
                                                                 Mounted sculpture is 11 1/4" tall and 5 1/2" wide.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Cynthia Smith, Maine artist, originally from Connecticut. Taught art at secondary level for 35 years, retired in 2004. Sculpts in bronze, wood, stone, clay & plaster. Her work can be seen at several mid-coast Maine galleries and shows.

    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    October 2022
    May 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.