My “Blind Faith” limited edition Bronze Sculpture is born:
As a student, I majored in sculpture but never got to do any sculptures after I finished my studies…until recently.
My “Blind Faith” limited edition sculpture is born.
Blind Faith is a very symbolic sculpture.
This girl is blindfolded, this is symbolic of trusting, trust your inner voice a Higher Hand, the omens crossing your path.
The bird who is, in a way, leading the way, is also symbolic of The Voice you have to trust.
We want to control everything, be in charge instead of letting go.
This sculpture is an extension of my paintings, as I paint a lot of puppet-like figures, this little figure is also a puppet, little minute screws “holding her together”.
My Technikon Art Lecturer, my Mentor
During a visit to the lecturer I had as a student, she helped me to get started again.
Zelda Stroud is an inspiration and a master in own right and a true mentor.
A Bronze sculpture I did as a student
I did two bronzes as a student of which one came into the market recently as a re-sell.
“Lovers” is 28cm and R11000
I was inspired by the elongated figures of the twentieth-century artist, Alberto Giacometti when I did this figure in 1989 as a student.
Start of the process to create my Bronze Sculpture:
First you build an Armature:
After you decided on the sculpture you want to make, you build a wire armature that works like a little skeleton to support your figure.
From here I used Plasticine, which is a mix of clay and wax, and lovely to work with, to form the little figure around the armature.
Now she is out of my hands – off to the Foundry
I dropped the sculpture off at the artist, Cobus Haupt who did the casting of the figure for me.
It felt a little like taking your baby to a daycare center for the first time. But as Cobus was recommended to me as someone who is very capable, I knew the sculpture was in good hands.
From here the hard work starts, but now I am not part of the process anymore.
A Peek into the process of Bronze Casting
Creating a Silicon Mold:
The sculpture is “wrapped” in a silicon mold, the clay is removed from the mold and wax is being cast in it.
Wax figures:
Here are links to two YouTube videos showing the process of making a bronze sculpture from beginning to end attached for those of you who are interested in the process.
How bronze sculptures are made ,
and an old video, but it is very descriptive: A to Z of creating a bronze sculpture
Ceramic Shell:
Wax figures get a ceramic shell
Casting the bronze:
After the wax is melted out of the shell, the bronze gets cast.
The greenish color is a patina.
Attached a you-tube video to show how to get a patina on a bronze. How to Patina a Bronze
I also use oil paint on some of the figures.
From here I needed more help to mount the figures on their stands and Francois and Jaco and Len were lifesavers!!
This little girl will brighten up any corner in your home, she is the ideal sculpture piece to add to your art collection.
To see all the bronze sculptures or to purchase one, you can click on this link. Original Art
Without the help of all these people mentioned in this post, this little girl would not have been here today.
