How to Make and Sell Bronze Castings
One of the oldest of the metal arts, bronze working goes back thousands of years. Some of the techniques used in the beginning, such as the lost wax technique, artists use to this day. Learning how to do bronze casting requires access to specialized equipment, so it can be difficult to get in to. But many towns have workshops or co-ops that have the tools necessary and once you begin selling your work you can even invest in your own setup.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Workspace
- Sculpting medium
- Liquid rubber
- Plasticine
- Release agent
- Tape
- Wax
- Refractory cement
- Pan
- Metalworking shop
- Safety goggles
- Gloves
- Internet access
Instructions
-
-
1
Take some art classes. In particular, take classes on sculpting and casting. You need to know how to cast bronze and develop your artistic skill so that you can do your best work in bronze. You can often find such classes at local community centers, arts co-ops, or community colleges. If you're lucky, you can even find a local master to teach you. Metal casting can be a dangerous process, so it's important to learn to do it properly.
-
2
Set up a designated space to do your casting. You will be dealing with molten metal, so make sure that the surroundings are not flammable and that your workspace has plenty of ventilation. Investing in the proper equipment for metal casting can be quite costly, however, as furnaces are expensive. Instead, your best bet is to sign up with an artist co-op or company that already has the resources available.
-
-
3
Create original sculptures. The material you use for this does not matter. You can use ceramics, wax, or any number of other materials.
-
4
Embed one of your sculptures in plasticine and pour liquid rubber over the top. Embed a straw or stick at one end to create a sprue. Allow the rubber to harden, then flip the sculpture over. Remove the plasticine and coat the exposed rubber with mold release. Pour a second layer of rubber over the exposed half of the sculpture and allow it it harden.
-
5
Place the two halves of the rubber mold together and tape them together. Pour heated liquid wax into the mold. Rotate the mold to ensure that the liquid wax fills every nook and cranny. Allow the wax to cool and harden, then peel the mold away. Keep the wax sprue attached to the wax casting.
-
6
Place the wax sculpture with the sprue pointing up in a tub. Mix a bag of refractory cement with water, following the instructions on the bag, and pour it into a tub. Cover the wax figure completely save for the very tip of the sprue. Allow the cement to harden, then remove it from the tub.
-
7
Heat the cement, with the sprue pointing down, and place a pan under it. The wax will become liquid again and drip into the pan, leaving a hollow impression in the cement behind.
-
8
Heat the bronze in a furnace and pour it into the cement mold. Be absolutely sure that you use proper safety gear and precautions as you do this. If you are a novice, do this only when supervised by someone experienced with casting. Allow the metal to cool and break open the cement. Add any finishing details to the sculpture such as polish, patinas, etc.
-
9
Search out art galleries, cafes, hospitals and other places that generally display art and see if they will carry your work. Set up booths with your pieces at local craft fairs. Bronze pieces are generally high-end art, so skip the small fairs and go directly to the larger, more populated ones. The entry fees will be more expensive, but you will be more likely to sell your work. Fairs are also a great place to network with potential buyers and other artists and are a good source of commissions.
-
10
Set up a website that sells your work. There are a number of online galleries that allow artists to join and provide them with seller services. Also, be sure to make use of social networking sites to keep fans in touch and spread the word.
-
11
Market your work by taking out advertising on websites and relevant magazines, auctioning pieces for charity and granting interviews.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Only work with molten bronze if you are fully trained. Otherwise, work under the direction of someone knowledgeable.
References
- Photo Credit bronze image by PASCAL BOUFFAY from Fotolia.com
