Anthony’s sculpture are all hand-made in bronze using the ancient process of ‘lost wax casting’. He works on every stage of production himself, as well as overseeing the work of a highly skilled foundry team to ensure that every sculpture lives up to his high standards.
The Sculpting and Casting Process
Inspiration
Anthony’s wildlife sculptures are inspired by careful observation of animals in the wild; he travels the world with his camera and sketchbook, capturing images and inspiration for the artworks which are later developed in his sculpting studio.
Sculpting
After developing the designs for his sculptures through sketches and small practice sculptures known as ‘maquettes’, the next stage is the construction of an armature – the metal skeleton onto which the clay is added. Anthony often spends several months refining his work until he is completely satisfied with the result.
Moulding
Once the clay sculpture is complete it is coated in a layer of silicone rubber, which captures every tiny detail of the clay surface. The rubber is then supported by a hard outer casing, to retain the exact shape of the original sculpture.
Wax Stage
Liquid wax is painted into the rubber mould and allowed to solidify, creating a hollow wax replica that exactly reproduces the original clay sculpture. The wax is built up to a thickness of 4-5mm and any seams or joins are reworked before the addition of wax ‘sprues’ that will later enable the pouring of the bronze and the escape of gases. Every casting of an edition requires the creation of a new wax.
Investment
The wax sculpture is coated inside and out with a fine, fireproof ceramic or plaster ‘investment’ which creates an exact negative impression of the hollow wax sculpture. The invested wax is then heated to allow the wax to melt and escape – hence the name ‘lost wax process’ – and it is into this hollow space that the molten bronze is poured.
Pouring the Bronze
The bronze is heated to a temperature of around 1070 degrees centigrade before being poured into the pre-heated ceramic/plaster shell. Once the bronze has cooled and solidified the investment material is chipped away to reveal the cast bronze sculpture.
Metalwork
Once the cast bronze is chipped out of its shell it needs to be cleaned and any separate parts welded together and joins reworked to their original form. This process of working the bronze with files and grinders is known as ‘chasing’.
Patination
The final stage is the patination, or ‘colouring’ of the bronze – this is the most exhilarating stage of the whole process. It is possible to create an almost infinite range of colours and tones through the controlled application of chemicals to the heated surface of the bronze. Anthony is particularly known for his diverse and creative use of patination to achieve unique and beautiful results.
Finished Sculpture
Once the patination is complete the sculpture is coated with a layer of clear wax which will protect the surface finish for many years. The sculpture is now complete and ready to be treasured and bring joy in its new home, wherever that may be.
