Building a one and one half life size bronze horse and rider Part Two

This larger than life size bronze horse statue was sculpted in clay.  A mold was then made from the clay model and wax was poured into that mold.  The wax was then "invested" or dipped in a liquid ceramic slurry and coated with sand to create a thick, hard ceramic shell surrounding the wax.  That ceramic shell was then heated to remove the wax and molten bronze was poured into the hot shell.  The pieces of the cast bronze were then welded together and textured to erase any seam lines from the welding.

Kim then traveled a team of two master foundrymen, Dan Snarr and Trevor McEntire from Atlas Bronze Casting in Kearns, Utah to Abu Dhabi, UAE where they reassembled the bronze horse and rider, sandblasted, applied patina, and installed the Arabian bronze monument on site. 

We left off with the pieces of the monumental heroic size bronze being welded together... 

The bronze horse and rider are welded together, the welds blended away and textured and it is ready for sandblasting in order to make an even finish over the entire piece.

Sandblasting the entire giant bronze horse.

Adding the patina to the bronze horse.

Building a one and one half life size bronze horse and rider Part One

The finished Al Forsan monument in place in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Making a bronze monument: This larger than life size bronze horse statue was sculpted in clay.  A mold was then made from the clay model and wax was poured into that mold.  The wax was then "invested" or dipped in a liquid ceramic slurry and coated with sand to create a thick, hard ceramic shell surrounding the wax.  That ceramic shell was then heated to remove the wax and molten bronze was poured into the hot shell.  The pieces of the cast bronze were then welded together and textured to erase any seam lines from the welding.

The finished clay sculpture of the Arabian Knight. It is shown here ready for the mold making process to begin.
The entire bronze monument was them sandblasted for an even finish on the metal.

Shims are added to divide the sculpture into sections and mold is painted on.

Because of the size of this bronze monument and the region of the world to which it was delivered, we then cut the monument into large sections to be crated in order to fit the size requirements for crates that can be shipped by air frieght to Abu Dhabi.

Sliding the sections of the bronze horse together.

Kim using a grinder to smooth and re-texture the welds while Dan works on welding the tail onto the horse.

Dan and Trevor attaching the upper body of the bronze Sheikh.

Welding the bronze Arabian horse's head in place.

Coming soon...   finishing the 1 and 1/2 life-size bronze horse and rider for Al Forsan.

See more of my bronze horse sculptures at www.corpany.com

The sculpture process - from drawing to bronze sculpture. The jumping horse.

The finished jumping horse bronze sculpture with multi-tonal patina which highlights this intricately detailed bronze sculpture of a leaping horse as she leaves the ground to clear a tall jump. 

The double reins and martingale of this bronze horse were added after the sculpture is cast in bronze.

See more bronze horse sculptures at www.corpany.com 

The finished clay sculpture is photographed and the photos are sent to the client for approval. Upon approval of the clay model, the bronze horse sculpture is ready to go to the foundry for the mold and lost wax bronze casting.

Hand drawn sketch for the jumping horse bronze sculpture, "Liftoff!"

This original sketch was done as a composite of a number of good photos supplied by the client. None of the photos captured the horse and rider in exactly the position I wanted, but I was able to get enough information from the measurements and photos to create this sketch. Once it was approved by the client, I went to work on the clay model. 

The clay model is formed by first building a metal armature, and then adding wire to the armature to support the legs, head and neck, and the tail of the horse. Then clay is added to the armature, shaped by hand and using various sculpting tools to create the form and detail of the bronze.

The difference an amazing patina makes on a bronze sculpture

I find the different patinas that are possible in bronze sculpture to be amazing. The appropriate application of heat and chemicals to the surface of a bronze sculpture cause chemical reactions in the metal which can bring out a myriad of gorgeous colors. The patina helps to bring a bronze horse sculpture to life. It also serves to seal and protect the surface of the metal.

Above is a Silver Nitrate patina on an Arabian horse bust. Patinas on this page are created by patina artist Laurie Tidwell.

It may well surprise you to learn that the patina on this pinto Arabian bust is not paint, but layers of different chemical reactions which change the color of the actual metal itself.

Patination is the process of applying layers of color to the surface of a bronze sculpture. The patina artist creates this color by applying chemicals on the sculpture with heat. Patina is also the natural reaction of bronze to atmospheric conditions, such as chemicals and humidity and even man made environmental conditions such as water from sprinklers. The artist or the foundry will protect the patina with coats of wax or a lacquer to deter change in the patina. Because atmospheric elements constantly work on bronze surfaces after leaving the foundry, certain steps can be taken by the art collector to help preserve the original patina of the bronze sculpture. 

Bronze is a very durable metal. Your bronze sculpture can last for centuries! The patina is the most delicate part of your bronze. Regular application of a wax coating to a bronze sculpture will help to keep the elements sealed out and prevent color changes in the patina.

Many bronze collectors prefer to let the wax coating wear thin and enjoy the natural reaction and aging process of the patina especially on outdoor bronze sculptures. 

Wise collectors consult with a patina artist, foundry, or art conservator regarding any major changes in your bronze sculpture's patina.

This exquisite sculpture of a Quarter Horse's head will be part of the Quarter Horse fountain. The segments of the fountain are shown here as they were sculpted in clay.

Call Kim Corpany direct to take advantage of the pre-casting special price on this quarter horse head fountain.
It will be cast as a limited edition of 500 in white bonded marble.It will also be cast as a limited edition of 50 in bronze.
1(801)845-5168

The upper part of the surround frame featured hand sculpted leather like carving as well as the heads of four of the Foundation Quarter Horse Stallions: Peppy, Leo, King, and Doc Bar.

This is what the finished fountain will look like.