Wyoming Arts Council

This is an industrial process — modeling a figure from beeswax, casting it in plaster, melting the bronze to liquid form and getting it into the mold. Shane uses a centrifugal process (many jewelry makers use this small process). The piece fits into an iron “pipe” about 4″-5″ in diameter and about 7 inches long; the model has to be fastened to the rubber “lid” with clay and toothpicks. This is fastened on and then the plaster is poured in. The tube has to be tapped fast all around with a hammer until the plaster sets up, (although Berta suggested that Shane get something that vibrated to hold against the tube) to release the air bubbles that will cling to the beeswax model. The plaster has to set up overnight and then put in the oven for several hours, melting the wax and heating the mold (pouring the hot bronze into a cold mold would result in a geyser effect with the molten bronze). My little bear is only 3″ high and weighs about 8 lbs. The pipe comes out of the centrifuge and is put in the water bath. The plaster breaks down in the water and there’s the piece! A few sessions with the sand blaster and the small hand grinder (sounded like the dentist’s drill) getting off all the bubbles that didn’t rise, and it’s ready for patina. Lot’s of finishes to choose from.

Shane has been teaching at Green River four years. Shane is also a painter and mixed media artist — one of his pieces was chosen for the Governor’s Capitol Art Exhibition show this year. He conducts open studio evenings at the high school throughout the school year, which take place after school hours. Art teachers who took the class could earn PTSB credit.