Sculptures

Our Process

• Design: The design process starts with a conversation. We listen closely to our clients’ desires and identify key features that will help bring their vision to life. We also take into account existing artwork, so that the new sculpture will match the style and spirit of the space where it will be installed.  Using reference images, client information and any additional research, an initial sketch of the statue is drawn. 
• Creation: Once the design has been developed and refined, and a final sketch has been approved, we begin to sculpt in clay. Progress photos are sent to the client throughout this process, giving them the opportunity to request any modifications as they see the statue begin to take shape.
• Molds: After the clay images are approved, an initial plaster mold is made. From this first plaster mold, we make a mold in fiberglass.  This allows us to work on fine details, ensuring that the final mold captures every nuance of the sculpture.  The final mold consists of a hard exterior mother mold which provides rigidity and an interior rubber/silicone mold which helps shape the piece. 
• Casting: Casting bronze is a very different process than that of fiberglass. First, hot wax is applied to the inside of the silicone mold.  This captures every detail of the mold and once cooled, it creates a wax version of the final sculpture. The wax form is then dipped into a silica sand slurry, forming a shell around it. Once the shell hardens, the wax is burned out. Then, we are ready to pour the molten bronze into the heat-resistant shell. Once the bronze has been poured and the pieces have cooled sufficiently, they are broken out of the ceramic molds and the welding and finishing work begins. The entire sculpture is welded together and finished so that any seams or lines are imperceptible. The pieces are ground and polished to ensure a clean look. Lastly, we apply the finishing touches with patina from Sculpt Nouveau.  
• Installation: Installing a statue requires a template that is made of the footprint of the statue as well as the hidden hardware that will be used to affix it to the base. Once laid out, the template shows where to drill the hardware into the base.  The statue and its hardware are then set with an adhesive. Usually, within a few hours, the adhesive has cured and the job is done.

We take pride in offering a start-to-finish service for our clients should they prefer us to handle every stage.  We are willing and able to install statues throughout the U.S., ready to work with our clients to meet most any installation requirements.