The Making of "Jack" Part 5

On March 7th, 2012, Fully Visual and I will be releasing a new bronze sculpture of "Jack".

Inspired by my painting "Jacked" and the mythological "Jackalope", this sculpture attempts to blend my character design with the classic taxidermic presentation of the Jackalope (stuffed and mounted on a plaque).
Till its release, I'll be regularly presenting images of Fully Visual's process for casting the bronze.

NOTE: Due to the response we've experienced for "Jack", we decided to increase the production number from 7 pieces to final total of 10.

After the metal is cast and cooled the molds are cracked off and cleaned up. Jack was comprised of four individual pieces: the Rabbit, the Left Antler, the Right Antler, and the Plaque. After the pieces are cleaned each of the components are welded together. Finally the sculpture is finished with a patina for. Jack was finished with a classic bronze style patina.

The Making of "Jack" Part 4

On March 7th, 2012, Fully Visual and I will be releasing a new bronze sculpture of "Jack".

Inspired by my painting "Jacked" and the mythological "Jackalope", this sculpture attempts to blend my character design with the classic taxidermic presentation of the Jackalope (stuffed and mounted on a plaque).
Till its release, I'll be regularly presenting images of Fully Visual's process for casting the bronze.

NOTE: Due to the response we've experienced for "Jack", we decided to increase the production number from 7 pieces to final total of 10.

 

With each sculpture, we've included a certificate of authenticity. Each certificate is personalized with a drawing of Jack. The image was first hand traced from the photo of the sculpt. I then redrew the drawing onto each of the 10 certificates and finished them with ink.

The Making of "Jack" Part 3

On March 7th, 2012, Fully Visual and I will be releasing a new bronze sculpture of "Jack".

Inspired by my painting "Jacked" and the mythological "Jackalope", this sculpture attempts to blend my character design with the classic taxidermic presentation of the Jackalope (stuffed and mounted on a plaque).
Till its release, I'll be regularly presenting images of Fully Visual's process for casting the bronze.

After the "investments" (or molds) are formed, they are then heated in a kiln till the original wax positives are melted out. Molten metal (in this case bronze - a combination of copper and tin) is then poured into the mold and given time to cool. Once the metal has hardened, the ceramic investment is broken away to reveal the finished components to our sculpture.

The Making of "Jack" Part 2

On March 7th, 2012, Fully Visual and I will be releasing a new bronze sculpture of "Jack".
Inspired by my painting "Jacked" and the mythological "Jackalope", this sculpture attempts to blend my character design with the classic taxidermic presentation of the Jackalope (stuffed and mounted on a plaque).
Till its release, I'll be regularly presenting images of Fully Visual's process for casting the bronze.

A ceramic slurry is mixed from which a mold (or as they say in the biz, an "investment") is created around the wax. After the wax forms are dipped in slurry, they're coated with a layer sand/silica, allowed to dry, and the process is repeated several times. The finished product is a hard ceramic shell that forms around the wax. Later, these investments will be heated in a kiln and the wax will be melted out. 

The finished investments will serve as a mold for the molten bronze.

The Making of "Jack"

On March 7th, 2012, Fully Visual and I will be releasing a new bronze sculpture of "Jack".
Inspired by my painting "Jacked" and the mythological "Jackalope", this sculpture attempts to blend my character design with the classic taxidermic presentation of the Jackalope (stuffed and mounted on a plaque).
Till its release, I'll be regularly presenting images of Fully Visual's process for casting the bronze.

This photo features wax versions of the sculpture. These sculpts will be used to form the plaster molds from which the bonze will be cast. Each bonze requires its own mold and its own wax "positive".
This process is very time consuming and requires the hands of an artisan. This is why we've decided to limit this bronze to seven pieces (and it compliments the March 7th release date, which also happens to be my birthday).