Bronze Torso
I had a really cool name for this and my mind has hit a roadblock, as soon as I remember I'll post it.
I had a really cool name for this and my mind has hit a roadblock, as soon as I remember I'll post it.
As art is often want to to do, this piece made itself. I simply was a tool to procure its origination. In the human form class we were blessed to have an excellent, statuesque model. I swear she was a mannequin except for the breaks she took every once in a while to rest her arms.
The torso was originally sculpted out of plasticine, this oily clay substance that has been used forever in casting. I would like to mention I got an A+ for my piece. My eye for scrutinizing every detail gave me an edge I think, but I digress...
Once the plasticine is finished we coated the torso in silicone, and let it cure for several days, Then we made a plaster cast to envelop the silicone and give it structure and support. Once the plaster cured we pulled out the plasticine torso and cast wax into the silicone/plaster. After letting the wax cool to form an outer shell the warmer liquid was returned to reuse. When the wax cooled we removed it from the cast and began dipping it in a sand casting, which would layer up inside and out with support rods pushed trough the wax to keep the inner sand supported. The wax was then burnt out and the sand mold was ready for the molten metal.
Here is where my project took on a life of it's own. My mold was built so well, our crucible ran out of bronze before the pour finished, I made the call to just reheat and pour the rest on top (the legs were the top since the mold is cast upside down). After everything was said and done, the original pour had cooled too much to adhere to the second, but it made a belt line around the waistline. Would it have been any higher or lower then the piece wouldn't work the same.
As it is, the piece can be displayed together or with each part sitting side by side and it has an appeal that draws in the eye. Like a woman this piece is non-reproducable. A one of a kind statement about the art of the female body, and how, though they are sometimes fractured, they still have the capacity to be beautiful throughout.
The torso was originally sculpted out of plasticine, this oily clay substance that has been used forever in casting. I would like to mention I got an A+ for my piece. My eye for scrutinizing every detail gave me an edge I think, but I digress...
Once the plasticine is finished we coated the torso in silicone, and let it cure for several days, Then we made a plaster cast to envelop the silicone and give it structure and support. Once the plaster cured we pulled out the plasticine torso and cast wax into the silicone/plaster. After letting the wax cool to form an outer shell the warmer liquid was returned to reuse. When the wax cooled we removed it from the cast and began dipping it in a sand casting, which would layer up inside and out with support rods pushed trough the wax to keep the inner sand supported. The wax was then burnt out and the sand mold was ready for the molten metal.
Here is where my project took on a life of it's own. My mold was built so well, our crucible ran out of bronze before the pour finished, I made the call to just reheat and pour the rest on top (the legs were the top since the mold is cast upside down). After everything was said and done, the original pour had cooled too much to adhere to the second, but it made a belt line around the waistline. Would it have been any higher or lower then the piece wouldn't work the same.
As it is, the piece can be displayed together or with each part sitting side by side and it has an appeal that draws in the eye. Like a woman this piece is non-reproducable. A one of a kind statement about the art of the female body, and how, though they are sometimes fractured, they still have the capacity to be beautiful throughout.
