November 2010,
I was able to be instrumental in completing a lifesize bronze sculpture for a long time client of Century Bronze LLC Alice Ann Ochs. Alice Ann provided an eighteen inch maquette of a Jesus figure which was comissioned to be enlarged to a lifesize bronze by the First Methodist Church of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Jim and I, husband and wife team who have owned/operated Century Bronze for twenty-one years together scaled up the bronze to lifesize styrofoam armature. I then completed the clay modeling and detailing of the face, robe and hands to mold ready. The image was then taken through the five step process to a completed bronze monument and installed on November 23, 2010. It was an exciting opportunity for me to push my boundaries with a lifesize representation of the spiritual/ human form of Jesus Christ from the initial eyes of Alice Ann Ochs through my hands.
This is the original 18" maquette by Alice Ann Ochs.
A plaster copy is poured, and encased in a block of colored plaster.
The plaster is then sliced to correspond with 2" foam.
Those patterns are then transferred to the foam by use of an enlarger.
The foam is cut out and stacked
The stacked, carved foam, ready for clay.
The clay beginning.
The clay ready for mold.
The image is then separated into sections which will correspond with the sections sent to the foundry
and rubber is painted on.
and rubber is painted on.
As the rubber captures the detail of the image, a plaster "jacket" is applied to maintain the shape.
Removal of the rubber.
Bonnie pouring the wax pattern.
This is the wax pattern that will go to the foundry.
The wax patterns are cast at the foundry and returned to our metal department where we welded together and re-textured.
The finished metal with original maquette.
Jim applying the patina.
Finished patina.
"Come unto Me" installed.
TA-DA!!
