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The Bronze Sculptures of Ann Fleming: Windows to the Essential
I have recently become intrigued with the processes and motivations behind the work of sculptural artist Ann Fleming. The bronze sculptures she creates are so compelling that I thought I'd spend a few minutes exploring this fascinating artist. On Fleming's web site's home page there is an intriguing word written there with a definition. It says, "Essential: constituting the essence of something." This is good stuff! Only a person who considers their own inner workings, and how their work impacts the lives of others, would think to put something like that on her home page. I appreciate that.
When I first thought about why she put that definition in such a prominent place, I wondered if maybe Fleming was asking a fundamental question about the work she does, or betraying a small sense of doubt about the value of her work. Certainly, I wondered, creating a bronze figure must be about more than getting in touch with the essence of something. As I have thought about this, I am confidant that Fleming's work is motivated by wanting to express something all can relate to, something functional, something essential, and that there is no doubt in her about the value of her work. In fact, the grace and confidence she manifests in her art proves that the question is not for herself at all. Rather, it is asked as a way to create an introspection and an insight in the lives of those blessed to participate with her bronze sculptures.
Maybe a brief exploration of what "essential" means might be helpful. It is true that "essential" is "what constitutes the essence of something", but this doesn't quite make the significance of the word as explicit as it could be. To say that something is essential is to say that it is fundamental, or necessary. It is that which could not not be. This philosophic double talk is fun, right? That which could not not be is that which must be. It is something without which a thing could not exist. Enough of that. The point is that what Fleming is asking us to consider is that in her bronze sculptures she is portraying something essential about the human story. We each get to discover what that is for ourselves.
Ann Fleming is no ordinary artist because, for her, telling stories through her bronze sculptures is the function of her work, and not merely a by-product of it. In her own words she describes this perfectly when she says, "My work tells stories. I have tried to capture a kind of innocence or essence, the enchantment of believing in something bigger than ourselves … or the simple joy of just being human. In a way, these pieces are like fairy tales. I draw from the well of my own experiences, of all of our experiences. Sometimes a shape comes to mind and brings with it its own story, but often times a story comes and calls out its own shape."
To experience an Ann Fleming bronze figure is to love it. Because her pieces so skillfully and intuitively capture the essence of some universal truth, we can't help but reach out to touch, feel, and experience these beautiful pieces in a longing effort to understand, and connect with, the essential truths that our own stories and journeys reveal.
About the Author
Many bronze sculptures by Ann Fleming can be experienced online at Fairhaven Originals Gallery (FOG)
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How can I tone bronze? I want to tone small coins?
I am interested in a safe way to tone bronze coins.
potash patina is the easiest, you can get it at some garden stores its used as fertilizer, or sculpture suppliers.
dissolve potash in a bucket full of near boiling hot water.
95% water 5% potash, the water should look rusty or the color of iodine and smell like rotten eggs.
drop the bronze pieces in the bucket for 20min or until the bronze turns black.
remove the pieces, and with 0000(extrafine)steal wool, polish and highlight the raised areas.
use tung-oil or furniture paste wax to seal the patina and to add glossy sheen.
other colored patinas require a blow torch.
also you can use taco bell hot sauce to return bronze or copper to its natural color.
good luck!!!
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Casting a small object in Bronze
Bronze Sculpture Has a Long and Proud History
Bronze sculpture has been around for a long time. Besides bronzes longevity, artists particularly like this type of metal because it slightly expands before it sets. This allows the artist to apply the finest details to the piece. Bronze is not brittle and is very strong and ductile. This ductility contributes greatly to works that depict motion, especially in animals or humans.
One famous bronze artwork is the statue of Richard the Lion Heart. It is one of the few survivors of ancient art. Many others have been destroyed and melted down for making weapons of war. Interestingly, the material was sometimes used to actually sculpt scenes of the victors. There's just nothing like a bronze sculpture of yourself to say, "Hey, look at me. I kicked some B."
The Greek society was the first to use bronze to make life size statues. Unfortunately, there are only a few pieces that have stood the test of time. In other places in the world, like Egypt, one can find small, ancient, bronze figurines in the shapes of pharaohs, soldiers, beauty queens and other relics. The metal is very durable, and such a long history of surviving pieces is a real testament to the value of using bronze in sculpturing figures.
Modern artisans use a variety of methods to keep this art form alive and well. It requires highly skilled artists to work with bronze, and there are a number of discrete casting processes that have to be mastered, such as sand casting and centrifugal casting. When artists plan to create a large bronze sculpture, they usually create a miniature example of what they plan to create first. They also use a large number of measuring devices to scale the dimensions of a piece accurately, and to try to keep the weight as light as possible.
One method artists use to create a bronze sculpture bronze sculpture is the lost-wax method. It is an older method, but still commonly used by artists today. They sculpt the original piece in wax, wood or clay, then spend hours or even days perfecting the desired shape of the artwork. The waxed piece is then dipped in ceramic, then dipped in fine sand giving the detail. It is then dipped in coarser sand which will give strength to the piece. This process is repeated until the coating reaches one quarter of an inch in thickness. The artwork is heated to one thousand five hundred degrees Fahrenheit to melt the wax and set the ceramic mold. Molten bronze is then poured into the mold. Once this process is completed, the patina is applied for the perfect color. Sometimes ormolu is also used to coat the statue to display a gold finish. This method was borrowed from the eighteenth century French art form that was used in garnitures and clocks.
Last, but not least, a certificate containing information of the weight and size of the bronze sculpture is often issued. This is done to eliminate duplication. Pieces may also be numbered to identify them as part of a series. If you ever get a chance to see a bronze sculpture being created, be sure to take the time to check it out. It's a process with a long and proud history, and one that is worth witnessing.
About the Author
Bronze sculpture has a long history, from ancient times through popular use today. To see some wonderful examples of modern bronze sculpture, visit an online art gallery.
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