25^th of July on a Saturday“Solo Dancer” my bronze sculpture met with Cassandra Davis theEducation Volunteer Coordinator at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach California,to have a meeting with the educational department.
The reception was wonderful.Cassandra took photos of Solo Dancer, next to the stingray pool, amazing.Thank you Cassandra!

Real Stingray in the sand and another one bottom left of photo

Ocean Dancer will be on display until 12th of September.

Waiting for black marble stand for Solo Dancer, estimate cost to enlarge the ray and writing estimates on time-frame and cost of producing larger sculptures. Getting the word out.

Front Porch Gallery has accepted Ocean Dancer the “Trio”

into their 5^th Annual Juried Exhibition.

Opening Reception Sunday, July 19^th from noon to 2pm

2903 Carlsbad Blvd. Carlsbad CA 92008

Driving to the foundry in Los Angeles is wonderful. Knowing I can work with amazing artist, meet new people in the industry and have my sculpture created with the finest craftsmen, brings new joy!

Here's the third Ray

Today is a day to celebrate the completion of Ocean Dancers "the Trio".
Words can't describe the time and energy it took to complete this project. I did all the labor; building the molds, spurring, slurry room, sandblasting, sanding, grinding, polishing sandblasting and doing it again. Then the patina, one never know IF it is going to turnout exactly the why the artist wants it.  If it doesn't one has to sandblast all the tint and start all over again. I want to thank Mc3 for making the patina perfect. I learned so much, every step and now they are complete!

Swimming Along

Plate of "Sand" now flat, briased on the kelp today, welded the rays, then cooled. Next step; grinding & shaping kelp, taking the "bumps" out then curving the kelp. Practice the patina on scrap bronze, sandblasting and hmmmm, did I forget anything??? Now we know why bronze sculptures cost a good chunk of cash; so many hours, lots of labor involved!

Ocean Dancer

Successful Pour!

SUCCESS ! THis is the beginning of the support for the "Trio Dancers" It was a challenge to sprue these correctly, one error and the Kelp would have exported. Thanks to Brandon Roy at the Fallbrook Foundry for making this a wonderful success.

Del Mar Art Center Acceptance!

I received an email that I have been waiting for six months, acceptance into the Del Mar Art Gallery. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be surrounded by other sculptors. Thank you DMAC!
Del Mar Art Center

Out of her Shell....

After hammering out the large pieces of ceramic, the base stingray looks fantastic.

Now the work begins to clean her up, cutting off the spurs, which were the channels that deliever the bronze to the sculpture. (Originally rods of wax which turn to bronze)First step is sand blasting, followed by grinding, sanding, polishing then adding a tint called "Patina"

The other rays will be welded to the base with kelp as their support.

Out of the shell come a beautiful bronze base

Pouring the Base

Today was the pour of the base stingray "Peeking" out of the sand. It was a exciting yet, bit stressful day as I have seen what can happen if the spurs are not set correctly. Blow-Up time. After spending about fifty hours building the base and creating the texture of sand in a slab of wax, the last thing an artist wants to see is their piece in "Pieces" Daniel was coaching me; "Always watch your feet and everyone elses." In other words, make sure there is nothing under your feet when you are handling 2200 degrees of molten bronze.

Getting Ready for 1700 degrees "burn-out" wax

Daniel giving me waring about "Watching Out the Feet"

2200 degree Bronze

My First Pour

Amazing if I must so say

Texture of the sand is perfect

Wowo... Looks whos on the cover of the Coast New 24th Feburary

Arts Alive 2015 Feburary...
June 7th Auction begins at Cardiff Seaside Market Center
Come Bid #24 is Yogi Surf Crossing ! See you there!

A Great Day at the Foundry.

Amazing day learning more attachments for the Drumel Tool. Yes, I am excited to learn what tool grinds down bronze after the big angle grinder, its a Carbite steel bit! Now, I know why guys feel so mucho, holding that tool and feeling the 20,000 rpm WOWOOWowowo. Daddy, are you watching over me?

Hardhat, gloves, eye protection, mask clothes from the thrift store, I am ready to grind away.
Dunked kelp in wax, used the sander, began spurring the base of the Trio. Its a great day at the Foundry.

Ocean Dancer II the first steps

After heating up the bronze agite to 2,400 degrees it is time to pour. The shell is stablized before the bronze is added.

The Crucible is the glowing orange pot that holds the molten bronze

Within hours an artist is able to clip away and see their sculpture

Bronze Trio being Created

Many hours cleaning, grinding, sawing, clipping away at the ceramic shell, bits of bronze that are not part of the sculpture takes days of work and lots of patience. It is all worth the amazing reward of the finished project.

from wax to rough, then grind

Sand Blast

1st Polish of many

First polishing after the grinder, then sand blasted

Today, the third ray will be spurred and the larger Ocean Dancer II will be poured.

First Cleaning

Process of Casting

Bronze casting is very extensive

Once an artist creates a clay sculpture, a wax mold is created. The ray on the front right is raw bronze before any sanding has taken place.

"Sculpture Works Inc" at http://www.gobronze.org/from.html has a wonderful web page that explains all the steps involved in creating a bronze sculpture.
Click the link " Go Bronze" and enjoy!
Go Bronze