A bronze jumping horse trophy in progress

This clay model for a bronze sculpture started out as a pipe with a t fitting on a board. I then added oil based clay and wires to support the legs, tail and head and neck. 

Once the horse was well under way, I added the saddle, bridle, breastplate and then the rider.

When the finished sculpture is cast in bronze, there will be no pipe in his belly for support.

This horse and rider are approximately 12 inches high.

Number 1 of the limited edition of this bronze jumping horse sculpture is going to become a perpetual trophy on a walnut base which will bear the names of the winners through the years. 

I will keep you updated as this statue moves through the mold making and lost wax bronze casting processes!

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.

Liftoff! Bronze jumping horse sculpture by Kim Corpany

I am thrilled to share the bronze sculpture "Liftoff!" in it's finished form.

 I was even more excited to receive the response from the client for whom this bronze was created as a surprise anniversary present for his wife. His very skilled wife and one of her awesomely talented show jumping horses were the subject of the bronze sculpture.
His note to me:

Kim,

The sculpture arrived today and is absolutely beautiful. What a work of art! It brought my wife tears of joy, and was admired all evening by our 2-year old daughter.

Thank you for all of your hard work; it will be cherished for years to come.

Patrick

So pleased that they now have this bronze sculpture!

To see more of my bronze horse sculptures, visit www.corpany.com