This picture is not one of my pieces, but it helps show the next stage that my elk sculpture will go through. In the image you can see the "green" of the rubber, usually a high quality silicone rubber that captures the detail of the clay. The the outside is either plastic or plaster to keep the shape. Now that the foundry has the original clay, they will apply liquid rubber with a catalyst, then allow it to set. After enough is applied and it is firm, the outer shell will be created. Once finished the mold becomes the important thing and the original is discarded, or kept by the artist for future reference or memories. The mold is then what liquid, melted wax is poured into. That wax is then used in the lost wax casting process that will eventually create a bronze sculpture, and in this case an elk bronze sculpture. For more info about the casting process, go here. I have confidence in the foundry to create a good mold and complete the piece. We should see it sometime in early Aug or late July.
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Being artists, specifically bronze sculptors, my father and I enjoy good press in all it's forms. We've had the chance to be featured in a PBS show, several magazine articles, and even radio broadcasts. Recently Art World News magazine did a nice article about the 25th business of my father's business and called for an interview. I was able to contribute a few quotes to the article and enjoyed doing so. Marketing is different than it use to be. Now you have more than just a few premiere art magazines. There are Linked In art groups, Google + groups, face book and so on and so forth. You have to be everywhere and each one hits various markets / audience. When any outlet such as AWN magazine will do a write up, interview, profile or press of any kind, we take advantage of such an offer. Before starting the countdown on the camera for the official picture, this image was snapped of the (nearly) entire Hopkins clan working quick to get in place, wipe the dirt off the cheeks, fix the hair, stop the crying and smile. Family reunions are "fun" and crazy. For the last few days we've all eaten too much, especially ice cream, played outside until dehydrated, stayed up too late and attempted to stay happy in the process. 19 kids is a serious handful. I'm that big head in the far top right corner. Luckily my beautiful wife is covering this ugly mug. The foundry called and needed instructions for patina on the new bronze eagle sculpture. It was unexpected and made my day. Seeing hard work come full circle and finished is the fulfilling part of the process... well, then of course finding good homes for the work as well. However, it's kinda a "Christmas morning" feeling when the work is in it's final stages. By the end of the week, "Defending Liberty" should be here. It's only my second eagle sculpture I've ever done and I think it will be one I'm proud of. Now we shall see how it's received by the public. My newest piece, an elk sculpture commission, will be on it's way to the foundry in a few hours. I have a few minor things to finish on the piece and then it's done, at least on my end. The client came this morning and we discussed a title...probably "Mountain Monarch". This has been a tougher piece to do than I expected. Sometimes I'd "feel" it and other times I didn't. It's been fun and taught me a few things. Truthfully I think seeing it completed in bronze, with the patina it needs, will satisfy that nagging voice in my head that it needs a little something more. (Update) - Piece made it to the foundry and all is well. Independence Gallery, a local gallery near the studio, is owned by a friend named Billie who is also a painter. She's a go-getter. My wife and I enjoy having lunch with Billie on occasion because her optimistic attitude is contagious and we like filling our creative buckets from her reservoirs. Billie is the one I plan to do a "raven" project with. I'll create the sculpture and she'll do a matching painting. At the moment the current project is an art show she invited me to be a part of. She, another artist named Deb Groesser and myself are part of an Animals in Art "show" that runs June 5th-July 3rd with a reception on June 14th. Part of the procedes from sells will benefit the Animal Rescue of the Rockies. I'm grateful to be a part My wife and I had to travel to Omaha (Nebraska) for business this week. We thought bringing the kids along and making a trip out of it would be worthwhile. We'd heard that the zoo there was one of the top in the nation. And boy was it. Many of the animals are close enough to touch, even the lions, but of course we didn't. A women had her husband move some tall grass that blocked her view of the lions in an effort to get a better picture. The lioness, which was less than 6 feet away in their cage, showed her teeth and her unhappiness at the man. Those of us seeing this happen quickly remembered that these animals, although nice to look at, are wild. It was a great opportunity to see many animals up close. My wife heard me say several times "I want to sculpt that now". Duplicating a scene, capturing a moment of such animals in bronze was on my mind too often that day. Sculpting some of these treasures of nature haunted me and will for some time. We all appreciated the chance to have seen these beautiful creatures in person.
I really enjoy performing as a live bronze sculpture...most of the time. The drunks and non-monitored youth or children can put a damper on the day. This past Saturday I was invited and sponsored to attend a small town's big annual celebration. When kids from ages 6-18 have free reign, I can sometimes pay the price. During other events when parents are close at hand the touching, poking, pushing, and horse-play only goes so far, but for some reason this specific event (my second thus far, I also attended the 2012) brought much unwanted attention from trouble makers. That said, there were fun times and I shocked, played with and entertained many who were sweet and didn't cross the lines. My next event I've been asked to attend is July, 13. READ MORE ABOUT BEING A LIVING STATUE HERE. Luckily the collector who commissioned the elk sculpture isn't in any rush or put a deadline on me. However, sometimes clients need their sculpture cast in bronze and finished by a certain date and you feel the pinch. Pressure can dampen the creative juices. So if the client didn't put a deadline on this, why do I feel it? Well, we are having a family reunion in a couple weeks. My sister and her family from out of state are taking this for me to the foundry near where they live. This saves the cost of shipping as well as better treatment during transit...hopefully, and it will be in a A/C cooled mini-van instead of a hot semi on the open highway. I realize the deadline is self imposed and I could avoid it, but I'll use it as a motivator. Truth be told, I need a motivator. For some reason I've yet to figure out, this elk sculpture has been a pain in my side. The details are coming, yet it remains a frustration to me. The antlers need to be donesoon and are extremely important. They scare me. Off on adventures they go. Our children (pictured) are off in the distance to find excitement and fun here at the studio. Luckily my father's home, also where the studio is located, has lots and lots of land around it. Now that they are out for summer vacation, my wife, who manages the business for Mark and I, brings them to the studio. Hopefully they will create memories that they will have for years. I already spent too much time today scouting out a home for a new secluded tree house, finding supplies for homemade slingshots and everything else kids can imagine. My fun memories from childhood are many and I hope that I can balance the demands of being a bronze sculptor and that of being a good father so they also create such memories. Now back to the elk sculpture commission... |
AuthorThese updates are written by Eli Hopkins. Archives
October 2013
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