Celebrating Lives Update

Oh Watching ... that is was quick to achieve!
But Good things take time
I hope you enjoyed this compilation.
Next a 360 and the cast Bronze!

Portrait Sculpture of People and Animals by Sculptress JOEL Walker

Celebrating Lives

Birthday Gift Horse Sculpture
New project to capture a special horse friend in clay and cast to bronze.
Just a hint of Bosstick - to be made into a table top Bronze sculpture to celebrate very special lives.

Now for a time of study and preparation to get the armature ready.

Plans made and board and materials gathered.

Base of the armature fixed and filled - all must be inside the body core of the sculpture.

The material needs to set and the base of the body begun with clay. Then to work to the top-line

The first clay is added to the armature of the body

Checks kept to make sure that the sculpture stays inside the profile

The 'rocking horse' legs wire cut and the shaping begun

Early view of the start of the body core 

The neck and head is developed

The  pins are used to mark key points on the horse

Much work next to develop front and rear profiles and the musculature

It's a horse! We are on our way...

Different camera... clay looks odd

Such an elegant head carriage...

Now for some body building!

 Superb shoulder and power-house rear muscles

And we are off to a site visit a 'standing' with the Gee himself...

Fantastic Day

Grateful thanks to the yard and to the 'Handler'!

More Days and work on the surface

Help from Local owners and dressage specialists - THANK YOU

Getting those joints improved and check on competition fit muscles

And it is the Birthday Surprise... Unveiling - Delight and yes SURPRISE 

 final checks and last preferences from the Birthday girl. A little more mane length, pastern... and here we are...

Portrait Sculpture of a much loved Irish Draught x Dutch Warmblood - winner at HOYS and successful in Dressage completions - a very special horse.

One thrilled Birthday Girl

Happy Husband

And a series of shots of the sculpture in the clay stage before going off to have the mould made.

Off we go !

via GIPHY
The sculpture was taken off to the mould maker and the flexible mould and rigid backing shell were made.

Next after cleaning the mould the founders wax is poured and the sculptress checks over the details of the wax of the horse.

Runners and sprues attached, the investment mould  built up and then the 
bronze poured. A long and skilled process to bring the work to the finished bronze.

Precious Gift

To make the portrait of a special dog friend that has been so important to a family is such a privilege and challenge.

Here we have the latest start to capture such a character in clay and then to cast in Bronze.
It is to be a secret surprise for now but here we go!
A key image

Below the head sculpture design and lovely, soft expression of this special dog.

Life Sized Portrait now in progress

Filling out the profiles and sketching in the ears and key hair character

Change to the top profile after discussion with client

Comparison with key image

The nose needs attention and  then the long haul to build the surfaces and begin to add all the hair and  key feature details.

 The characteristic nose is in place now

More sessions

 Eye shape is coming right and  the hair on the left side of the face

Next sessions for more work on the hair  including developing the hair line on the lower jaw and  refining the neck

Good progress more to the left side and work on the right...and all over including that wonderful jawline developing

Lighting conditions today showing some of the coat textures developing

 This is going to be a spectacular Bronze 

Work on that amazing nose

and more of the chin hair

Next more details to the hair of the eyebrows and the waves on those epic ears

More news - the client has asked for higher ear set.

So here we are with the gayer ear set.

 If you look at the fold of the ear it is now at the level of the eye

The forehead now looks higher as the muscles lift the ears.

View from lower and below eye level

 More development to the brow and hair

More hair detail and work on the eyes

Slight changes to shape of mouth and ear set

Check out this chin!!

Wax all checked and then cast

Finished and Mounted

and very Happy Client