The Bronze Process - From Clay to Bronze

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Bronze sculptures are created through an intricate process beginning with the initial sculpture formed in clay. It is important to mention that this process is one that has remained the same throughout human history, and is nearly unchanged. Mike creates his sculptures in clay in his Reno studio. He uses warm oil-based clay to mold his idea into a clay form, first sculpting a small-scale model, after which he creates a full-size sculpture. Next he refines the clay, adding detail where needed. When it is complete, they are shipped to Valley Bronze in Oregon, where he joins his pieces and continues to oversee and work on them throughout the bronzing process.

There are several steps by which a bronze sculpture is created once at the foundry. A true appreciation for the art of bronze sculpture comes when the process of their creation is understood. Each piece requires a series of molds ranging from as little as a two piece mold to as much as a forty-piece mold. Unlike other art mediums, bronze sculpture often takes several months to create and cast, and each cast renders artistic variations within the same piece. For this reason, bronze sculptures make a wonderful art investment.