Welcome Back!

It's been many years since I have posted anything on my Blog. I thought one lung cancer fight was enough, but I was wrong. It came back before I made my three-year "clear" anniversary. And it has taken three additional years to feel kinda (not normal). 

It feels great to have my creativity back, and I am creating so many beautiful pieces I have to share.

My Marine Life sculpture collection has really grown; Mom and the kids were born at the Big New Foundry in Los Angeles, and Master Patina Erin did a perfect job blending the golds, greens, blues, and the reef of Burnt Sienna and gold for the base. Excellent. I will present the Marine Life sculptures independently, keeping me in control of my work.

Did you know Garibaldi juveniles have brilliant blue spots all over them? They grow out of their spots.

Mama and the Kids
Mama Garibaldi and Babies

Going through my Blog and reading some of my posts, it is important for people to realize

who I  am.

It's been almost a year...

The year was 2017, 

On the 8th of September 2017, I was diagnosed with Stage ONE Lung Cancer:
ADENOCARCINOMA: it's a silent tumor that doesn't have "noticeable" symptoms, only a slight cough. 

It's a new year, and I am ready for a fantastic adventure to Grand Rapids, MI.,for ArtPrize 10.      I leave in the morning and will enjoy keeping a blog on all the excitement of this celebration of life.

I will have my sculpture "The Fever" in my chosen building. BOB Big Ol Building. The artwork at Art Prize was voted upon; my number was 66676. Thousands of people from all over Central America came to this event. Thousands of artists and beautiful artwork. My Marine Life Sculpture of the Sting Rays was on display.

Promo Postcard for ArtPrize 10

Mariposa View 1

Mariposa View 2

Mariposa View 3

Mariposa View 4

Mariposa View 5

Four days before Christmas and I feel as today was a great gift given to me for the intense work I put into the clay mold of Ocean Dancer’s I second pour. Spending many hours perfecting the smoothness of the clay really paid off. One may not notice it in the following photos, as the bronze comes out of the furnace at 2,000 degrees, but I can tell it is going to be a smooth lovely finish. In about 40 more hours of work!

Le Beau Touché is a sulfur free, extremely smooth and flexible plasteline with exceptional adhesive qualities, but too soft.

• The summer heat made the clay very soft, every nail and finger print showed.
• More clean up to eliminate the imperfections from the marks in the clay.
• Careful with the tools, any “miss-taps from a tool showed up on the clay. 
• More clean up to eliminate the scratches
• Dust, clean it up

Next clay

AMACO Modeling/Sculpting Materials > Industrial Styling Clay (HBX-2)

Non-hardening. AMACO® Industrial Styling Clay is excellent for designing large and small models. A medium firmness clay that can be carved, extruded, shellacked or painted and held to +/- 1/2000 inch tolerance. 

Today was the pour…..

Seven layers of sand creates a ceramic shell

Ceramic shell is heated to 1700 degrees to prevent cracking

30 minutes later it rests in a pile of dry clean sand.

Molton Bronze is heated to 2000 degrees, broken glass is added to the bronze to release impurities.

Clean very hot molton bronze secure and ready to pour

Nic's first pour!

2000 degrees

One hour after the pour the ceramic is removed from the sand to cool.

After 30 minutes, its grab with large prongs and water is poured on to crack the shell.

A very clean break

Next the spurs are sawed off