'Seahorses', 2007 (Finished) by Shane Wilson (carved moose antler)
December 17, 2007 Categories: Seahorses | Portfolio Images
LINKS: In Progress Slide Show: Male Seahorse, Female Seahorse
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
'Seahorses' (Female - Finished) by Shane Wilson (carved moose antler)
December 17, 2007 Categories: Seahorses | Portfolio Images
After a serious amount of further refining and polishing , both carvings are done! A 1" thick block of oak has been added to the back of each carving, joined with Liquid Nails, to avoid long term damage from screws in antler. The carvings will be fastened onto a back board by these wooden blocks.
LINKS: In Progress Slide Show - Female Seahorse
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
LINKS: In Progress Slide Show - Female Seahorse
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
'Seahorses' (Male - Finished) by Shane Wilson (carved moose antler)
December 17, 2007 Categories: Seahorses | Portfolio Images
After a serious amount of further refining and polishing , both carvings are done! A 1" thick block of oak has been added to the back of each carving, joined with Liquid Nails, to avoid long term damage from screws in antler. The carvings will be fastened onto a back board by these wooden blocks.
LINKS: In Progress Slide Show - Male Seahorse
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
LINKS: In Progress Slide Show - Male Seahorse
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
'Seahorses' (Female - Phase 12) by Shane Wilson (carved moose antler)
November 06, 2007 Categories: Seahorses
In this phase, the carving has been cleaned up, and by this I mean, attention has been paid to the corners and small areas, to make the overall impression crisper and sharper. I have added the lines, indicating the plates or divisions on the seahorse's body.
All that remains now is to sand and polish, then apply a backing, which will enable the carving to be mounted in a shadow box.
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
All that remains now is to sand and polish, then apply a backing, which will enable the carving to be mounted in a shadow box.
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
'Seahorses' (Female - Phase 11) by Shane Wilson (carved moose antler)
November 05, 2007 Categories: Seahorses
In this phase, the tail is finished and more attention has been paid to the face, particularly the eye and forehead. I will now spend a little time cleaning up the entire carving and add the lines indicated in red.
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
'Seahorses' (Female - Phase 10) by Shane Wilson (carved moose antler)
October 30, 2007 Categories: Seahorses
The level of detail in this carving may be a little over the top, to be sure, but the overall effect seems to be working. Each tiny section takes several hours to complete. I have been using dental burrs to create the fine detail.
The design evolves, becoming concrete in the carving process.
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
The design evolves, becoming concrete in the carving process.
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
'Seahorses' (Female - Phase 9) by Shane Wilson (carved moose antler)
October 25, 2007 Categories: Seahorses
After quite an haitus, I have begun again on the Female Seahorse, roughing and refining the body details. It is good to be working in antler again.
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
'Skullpture Series - Seal 2, 2007' by Shane Wilson (carved bronze sculpture)
September 01, 2007 Categories: Skullpture Series | Portfolio Images
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
'Skullpture Series - Black Bear 2, 2007' by Shane Wilson (carved bronze sculpture)
September 01, 2007 Categories: Skullpture Series | Portfolio Images
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
'Skullpture Series - Black Bear 1, 2007' by Shane Wilson (carved bronze sculpture)
September 01, 2007 Categories: Skullpture Series | Portfolio Images
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
'Skullpture Series - Small Wolverine 1, 2007' by Shane Wilson (carved bronze sculpture)
September 01, 2007 Categories: Skullpture Series | Portfolio Images
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
'Skullpture Series - Human 1, 2007' by Shane Wilson (carved bronze sculpture)
September 01, 2007 Categories: Skullpture Series | Portfolio Images
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
'Skullpture Series - Human 2, 2007' by Shane Wilson (carved bronze sculpture)
September 01, 2007 Categories: Skullpture Series | Portfolio Images
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
'Skullpture Series - Grizzly 2, 2007' by Shane Wilson (carved bronze sculpture)
September 01, 2007 Categories: Skullpture Series | Portfolio Images
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
'Skullpture Series' (Carving and Patination - Phase 6) by Shane Wilson
August 31, 2007 Categories: Skullpture Series
The patina is fragile and needs to be protected by a couple of coats of lacquer. Since the lacquer lends a plastic look to surface, two coats of Trewax are applied and buffed to dull the surface down and provide additional protection. Voila, the finished bronzes!
The bronzes will be photographed professionally and I'll post the images as they become available.
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
The bronzes will be photographed professionally and I'll post the images as they become available.
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
'Skullpture Series' (Carving and Patination - Phase 5) by Shane Wilson
August 25, 2007 Categories: Skullpture Series
Finally it is time to apply the patina! There are numerous oxidizing agents available for patination, all lending a unique look and colour to the bronze. I have chosen to use bismuth nitrate (with varying additions of titanium oxide) and silver nitrate for the human skull and some accents on other pieces (eg. wolverine). The patina is also applied by brush, lending a unique, ringed pattern to the finish. The patina is applied to a hot bronze surface, made so with an open flamed torch. Following the application the entire surface is quenched in water and reheated to dry the bronze and set the patina. The pics below show the patination set up and a variety of pieces in various stages of completion. Note the patina seems much whiter than it will appear after the final coat of lacquer is applied.
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
'Skullpture Series' (Carving and Patination - Phase 4) by Shane Wilson
August 16, 2007 Categories: Skullpture Series
The next stage is to apply the base coat, which in this case is an application of Birchwood Casey applied cold and then rinsed. An alternative base coat would be liver of sulphur, also applied cold. Following the rinsing, the bronze is heated to set the base coat and then the whole is rubbed back with steel wool.
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
'Skullpture Series' (Carving and Patination - Phase 3) by Shane Wilson
August 15, 2007 Categories: Skullpture Series
Prior to patination, it is important to clean the surface of the bronze, to remove impurities and any surface oxidation. The most effective way to do this is to sandblast the surface with a fine grit sand. It is important to avoid touching the surface of the bronze with bare hands after this process, as it will pick up oils and create uneven application/oxidization of the patina.
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
'Skullpture Series' (Carving and Patination - Phase 2) by Shane Wilson
August 01, 2007 Categories: Skullpture Series
Using power grinders and carbide burrs, designed for metal work, the designs are carved and the bases are completed using black granite. Following the carving the surface is smoothed with sandpaper, depending on the kind of patination to be applied. (2004-2007)
Below are a selection of images taken during this phase.
Skullpture Series - Seal 2
Skullpture Series - Large Wolverine 1
Skullpture Series - Grizzly 2
Skullpture Series - Human 2
Skullpture Series - Human 1
Skullpture Series - Wolf 2
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
Below are a selection of images taken during this phase.
Skullpture Series - Seal 2
Skullpture Series - Large Wolverine 1
Skullpture Series - Grizzly 2
Skullpture Series - Human 2
Skullpture Series - Human 1
Skullpture Series - Wolf 2
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
'Seahorses' (Female - Phase 8) by Shane Wilson (carved moose antler)
January 16, 2007 Categories: Seahorses
I have begun to rough out the carving's basic shapes, beginning with the nose and part of the face, as well as the belly and chest areas.
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
'Seahorses' (Female - Phase 7) by Shane Wilson (carved moose antler)
January 07, 2007 Categories: Seahorses
In this phase, I have transferred the pattern from the original concept drawing to the antler. I have made a few changes to reflect the 3D surface of the antler. I will now begin the process of roughing out the shapes, making decisions about high and low points and the way in which the 2D concept will be realized in high relief.
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
'Seahorses' (Male - Phase 12) by Shane Wilson (carved moose antler)
January 03, 2007 Categories: Seahorses
In this phase, the detail has been worked out for the remainder of this seahorse. All that remains now is to refine the lines, sand and polish!
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)
(moose antler carving, moose antler sculpture)