I took some pictures of the three portraits finished in clay right before I went ahead and molded them. The pieces were finished in bronze this week and were the last to be cast by the Bronze Works Foundry (I am very sad they are closing).
One Armed Sculptor
I am nearing completion of all three portraits of my daughter, Jasmine, while she is still little!!It is a race against GROWING TIME because they grow so fast in a few short weeks. I am glad I got her measurements at 4 weeks since her face has changed a lot since I started.
I've been sculpting my daughter since she was 4 weeks old (now she is 8 weeks!!) and there comes a time where you just have to hold her if you want to keep sculpting and sooth her!
It is nice to get a good upclose look at her closed eyes. It is amazing how quickly she can fall asleep in my arms
Three views
I now have all three infant expressions: Sleeping, Crying, Looking
Jasmine in Progress
I thought it would be nice to have some pictures of all three portraits together. Being goal oriented I thought I'd use these pictures to apply for a show even though I am not finished (I haven't heard yet if I got in). It is always good to have a reason and a deadline to finish a piece and hopefully it is close enough the juror gets the idea of where things are going... 
Patina at the Foundry
THE PATINA:
Below are a few pictures of the Oehmcke Commission - "Candice & Jackie" getting a traditional patina (consisting of blacks & browns). A patina takes the bronze piece which is a gold color, and changes the color by use of chemicals that are applied when the piece is cold or hot. If the piece does not get a patina it will change colors by exposure to the outdoors and air similar to copper. For “hot patinas”, a propane torch is used to heat the metal surface to the appropriate temperature to achieve the desired effect. Different chemicals (e.g. nitrates of copper, silver, iron, etc.) and application techniques (e.g. brushing, squirting, spraying, etc.) can be used to achieve a broad range of colors and effects.
The sculpture is hosed down with water and then the Liver Sulfur (base patina) is sprayed on which makes it a dark black and seeps into the crevices.
Here the piece is rubbed down with a scotchbrite pad so the original light bronze color is seen and the Liver remains for contrast. The piece begins to dry and is ready for the torch!
The sculpture is getting spun on a sculpture stand as Mike, at the Bronze Works Foundry, takes a torch working on heat consistency throughout the whole piece (220 degrees).
Once it has reached the right temperature the piece is sprayed with Ferric Nitrate and then once the desired color is reached a wax is applied to the surface while it is hot.
Once the piece is cooled a harder wax is applied and buffed.
Finished!!