"Tired like I have been ironing all day" is an expression from my childhood. Back in the day mom's spent several hrs. ironing and it was hard work. Breaking off ceramic shell all afternoon always reminds me of the expression.

117 lbs. of bronze covered in ceramic shell that needs to be removed.  

117 lbs. of bronze covered in ceramic shell that needs to be removed.  

The tools  

The tools  

The easiest way to go about it is to turn the piece on the cup and bang away.  

The easiest way to go about it is to turn the piece on the cup and bang away.  

Today's progress. I got off enough to know everything poured. 

Today's progress. I got off enough to know everything poured. 

And then you need to clean up.  

And then you need to clean up.  

Interesting color on the hands of this piece. Something about the amount of air hitting the bronze as it was heated.  I will have to ask David what caused it again. 

Interesting color on the hands of this piece. Something about the amount of air hitting the bronze as it was heated.  I will have to ask David what caused it again. 

I maybe  "tired like I have been ironing all day",  but I am very happy. Everything seems to have poured great. I will have a little repair work but nothing I can't manage. 😊  happy St. Patrick's day. 

We poured 8 pieces in two pours-170 lbs. of bronze

Thanks to David, Will, Carlos, Roland, Edie, Verena, Vanessa.  And a great big thanks to TXRX. 

One hat had a leak that David quickly stopped with spar set. Another hat had a leak we did not see on the very bottom.  It probably will not affect the piece. 

One hat had a leak that David quickly stopped with spar set. Another hat had a leak we did not see on the very bottom.  It probably will not affect the piece. 

"gust" X 3

"gust" X 3

verena's birds (3) and my "lifting spirit" gifts (2) cooling down. The bronze looks charred - weird. 

verena's birds (3) and my "lifting spirit" gifts (2) cooling down. The bronze looks charred - weird. 

I like this leather get up a lot more when it isn't 80 outside. I love the blue on the golden brown. 

I like this leather get up a lot more when it isn't 80 outside. I love the blue on the golden brown. 

"lifting spirits"

I thought "lifting spirits" was finished then I decided to give her a little gold leaf. And today I am sealing it. 

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The seal changed the color just slightly darker (more intense) so I am now using bronze wool to tone it down.  😳 

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Texture makes bronze alive.  

Texture makes bronze alive.  

Friendsergy - patina

Getting ready to apply a patina over the gold leaf. I am working out of TxRx today.  

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 After I applied a very strong liver of sulfur patina the first piece is drying in the sun as I work on the other pieces.

 After I applied a very strong liver of sulfur patina the first piece is drying in the sun as I work on the other pieces.

The gold leaf is still a little much but you can see hints of the liver of sulfur starting to show.  

The gold leaf is still a little much but you can see hints of the liver of sulfur starting to show. 

 

Here you can see the liver of sulfur (dark spots) toning down the gold leaf even more.   

Here you can see the liver of sulfur (dark spots) toning down the gold leaf even more.   

I am not finished but sometimes it is best to step away for a few days and then decide what to do next. This is one of those times.

Finishing "friendsergy"

Using a pneumatic with a metal brush then 3m polishing wheels.  

Using a pneumatic with a metal brush then 3m polishing wheels.  

 It is very hard to keep bronze highly polished so I have decided to add a gold leaf. The gold leaf will highlight the texture that gives the pieces life.  

Adding patchy goldleaf  so that spots of the dark bronze will show through. This added texture will add to motion and energy of the piece. 

Adding patchy goldleaf  so that spots of the dark bronze will show through. This added texture will add to motion and energy of the piece. 

Detail

Detail

Serendipity- patina

I used a wire brush attached to my pneumatic tool and shined her up.

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Almost finished  

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I purchased some 3m polishing disc that fit my pneumatic and continue polishing. 

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High gloss 

High gloss 

The final stage is to seal the patina, photograph her and document her deminsions and lastly determine the  title of piece.  I need suggestions- 

i am considering "holla holla", "raise the roof", "katinka katinka na na na" 

Headstands - ready for patina

The first headstand  

The first headstand  

Headstand #2 - piggy tails 

Headstand #2 - piggy tails 

Headstand #3 - pony tail  

Headstand #3 - pony tail  

I am considering a high gloss finish or my standard white. And I am debating whether I should put them on a concrete blanket similar to the happy dog bed but much thinner. Decisions decisions ............  

headstands and serendipity - molds

Once the sculptures are cast in bronze and chased I take mine to Legacy fine art foundry and have them make me molds of the pieces. I could do this my self but it is very time and space consuming. First they make a silicone mold then they reinforce the silicone with a mother mold which is plaster. 

The 3 headstands and serendipity molds held together with giant rubberbands. 

The 3 headstands and serendipity molds held together with giant rubberbands. 

The first headstand mold opened. The dimples are registers to make sure the two sides are properly lined up. This mold includes the sprue system that would be used to get the bronze into the piece.  

The first headstand mold opened. The dimples are registers to make sure the two sides are properly lined up. This mold includes the sprue system that would be used to get the bronze into the piece.  

Head stand #3

Head stand #3

Head stand #3

Head stand #3

Serendipity

Serendipity

I will keep these in a safe cool place in order to make reproductions of my originals. 

Devin Borden Gallery- Paul kittelson show

I try not to miss  Paul's shows because they always make me feel good. His ability to find beauty in simple everyday objects and materials is beyond clever. Below are a few of my favorites.

 

For better pictures of Paul's work here is a link to his website www.paulkittelson.com

This is aluminum siding and concrete

This is aluminum siding and concrete

 Fellow artist Daniel Calderon and a student of Paul's commented that the above piece references aging or life. With this comment in mind I re- looked at the piece. Now when I see this beautiful work I am reminded how important it is to stay grounded. With a stable footing the twist and turns, and the ups and down  life offers will not throw you off balance but will be what distinguishes ones life as exceptional.  There really is a beauty to a life well lived.  This will be a delightful sculpture for someone's contemporary collection. 

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Of course I loved this piece: wood grain with a hint of disco ball some of my favorite ingredients. 

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I do have a weakness for works on paper and the natural curve of this piece makes it a work on paper and sculpture. 

 

The opening was very crowded and it was hard to get good photos. Please post any photos you have on our sculpturehouston Facebook page.

My Art/Sculptor bucket list

 I just added to my art bucket list-  to have a sculpture in an underwater museum. 

I went for a run this am and heard  Jason deCaires Taylor:  An underwater art museum - teeming with life, Ted talk on my podcast app. I immediately came home and sat at my computer to see the talk with the visuals.  Links to the pod cast and the actual Ted talk video are below as well as some photos I took as I watched the video. 

 

 https://www.ted.com/talks/jason_decaires_taylor_an_underwater_art_museum_teeming_with_life?language=en 

 https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/tedtalks-audio/id160904630?mt=2#episodeGuid=eng.audio.talk.ted.com%3A2395

ph neutral cement ✅

 texture✅

 nature✅

definitely sustainable living✅ 

It is a shame our Texas coast is not crystal clear for snorkeling. We could probably still use some art/coral under our waters. Maybe there is a way to make it visible with special lighting????? Where there is a will there is a way. 

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