Ocean Dancer Complete

Ocean Dancer Complete

I received an email from the San Diego Botanical Gardens, formerly Quail Gardens in Encinitas. Learning the dates January 2015 to apply for the Sculpture Garden Exhibit is very exciting for me, as I imagine Ocean Dancer swimming through the “Underwater Succulent” gardens. I will be visiting the gardens to determine the size of the public art piece.

Finish it, May 2015

Next email was sent to the City of Encinitas:

Proposed art installation bronze sculpture that is educational, yet represents this creature’s place in nature for the city of Encinitas. Dimensions of public art piece would be determined on the availability of space, installation all professionally engineered by Brandon Roy, founder of California Academy of Sculpture.

Also, I may have a buyer for the prototype! The buyer suggested a light patina. That is no problem; we will do a light sand blast and reapply the light patina.

Swimming Forward

It is difficult to put into words, the excitement I am feeling over this little creation.

Spending the extra hours smoothing out Ocean’s Dancers skin really paid-off. Nick mentioned that the casting “popped” right off and no divots. That’s what I personally call the small imperfections which may occur, if the clay mold is not touched up. There were a few bubbles which were welded and removed, adjustment on her tail and fin were made.

The “sea-foam” green stone will be the support along with the sea grass. Polishing, sand-blasting and the Patina will finish her off. The response has given me such pride, each ray will have their own movement and grace.

Picking out Base

After the cleaning process of sand blasting, sanding,
picking out ceramic by hand, this is the end result.

Dipping Process

The wax mold is dipped into “Slurry” which is a thin mixture of an insoluble substance, as cement or clay, it is the first “Dip” before the sand. There is 3 to five coarseness of sand and after each dip; another layer of sand is applied. Usually, 2-4 times in each “Sand box”.

It takes days between each dip to dry, depending upon the weather.

“Ocean’s Dancer” is taking about six days to complete its cycle, then

we will have a ceramic shell.

The shell is where the molten bronze is poured.

Ceramic Shell after many coats has harden

Ready for dipping