Presto Change-o ... Translating Clay into Bronze

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