Bronze
Dimensions: 10″ x 11″ x 6″ approx
£2,400*
* Available on Collectorplan
£240.00 deposit
£180.00 per month for 12 months ( Interest free)
This sculpture is available to buy interest free with the Arts Council of Wales’ Collectorplan Scheme, see breakdown above and full details here..
This sculpture is from a Limited Edition of 30
Free delivery available within the UK
“This bird was commissioned by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park as the razorbill is the emblem for the Park.
Nesting time is a good time to study and sketch razorbills because they throw caution to the wind and will tolerate the presence of humans along the cliff tops. They probably feel secure on the narrow ledges that they often share with Guillemots. I was particularly keen to get some close up sketches of the beak, which is quite complex.”
“All my sculptures start their lives as a sketch which I do in the field. The sketches are quite simple, but I add little notes from visual observations. This gives me a general feel for the subject, I also see it as the birth of a sculpture. I enjoy the sketching and studying every bit as much as the sculpting.
The next stage is to visit one of the museum stores, where I have permission to draw and accurately measure the mounted specimens. I then combine all the information that I have gathered and do a few life size drawings in various posers. I also do some detailed drawings of heads, feet and beaks etc.
Now for the sculpting. The starting point is an armature, this is a structure that resembles a skeleton. It needs to be sturdy and stong to withstand the weight of the sculpting materials, which can be resin, wax, clay, plaster or serveral other materials. The choice is usually determined by the size and complexity of the subject, usually the piece will be refined, many times before it is considered finished. The very last thing to check is the eyes, they can be very problematical.
Once regarded as finished, the precious piece is sent to a long established, reputable, fine art foundry in Birmingham, where it will be cast in bronze.
The casting process is known as ‘lost wax’ process, and it was discovered over 5000 thousand years ago. This ancient method is still widely used today.
The first stage at the foundry is to cut the original sculpture into several pieces to make two-part moulds. I dread seeing the moulder doing this after all the trouble I have taken to create it. The moulds are used to make separate wax replicas of the original piece. The replicas are not cast solid but are cast hollow. The thickness of the wax is approximately 5mm thick. The centre of these replicas is then filled with a type of plaster of paris. The replica is then covered in a further mould made from clay material and then left to dry. When dry, the mould is put into an oven and the wax melted out, hence, ‘lost wax’. The space left by the wax is then filled with molten bronze metal and cast at over one thousand degrees. The second mould then has to be broken open with a hammer, and the bronze pieces go to the finishing shop to be ‘fettled’, a term used for giving the castings a good clean and smoothing look, and made ready for all the various pieces to be welded together. The completed piece is then ready to be patinated using a mixture of heat and chemicals, which gives the sculpture its colours.
Finally, the sculpture is waxed to give it its tactile finish.”
