Greg Norman enlargement process at Deep in the Heart Art Foundry

The original pattern was scanned into the computer with a laser beam. Once in the computer, a layer is removed to allow for the addition of oil clay and the final scale it set for output. Then the computer drives a milling machine that cuts the armature out of foam at the desired size.
On the computer


Beginning to mill the armature

continuing to mill

put together

Next up; sculpting in oil clay.

Continued work on Greg Norman Bust

We did not cast Greg's ears or nostrils during the main body cast. He breathed through his nostrils while his mouth was covered up. After removing the main body cast, we did his ears and nose while he could breath through his mouth. I try to not cover the ear canal while doing the main cast because sometimes it creates too much of a feeling of isolation. Enlargement is the next step.

First layer of silicon rubber on ears & nose. 
Troweling on final layer of thickened rubber.

Ready for mother mold

Mold boards waxed and ready to pour.

Hydrostone poured.

A light tap removes the waxed mold boards.

Beveling the edges removes sharpness.

Rigid urethane parts pulled from the mold.

Ready for enlargement.

Continued work on the Greg Norman bust

I cast rigid urethane plastic into the plaster bandage body cast of Greg Norman. The following images show the process. I will use this as reference to sculpt a bust 1.7 times larger than life.
Back at the studio, casting into the plaster bandages

Brushing in urethane plastic



I cast the ears and nose separately to make the body casting more comfortable

Soaking in very hot water to soften the bandages

Beginning to remove softened bandages




Christie Hackler cleaning up the positive 

Steps in sculpting a larger than life bust of Greg Norman

We took a lot of reference photos before we started

Magic marker to determine parting lines. Vaseline release on skin, Bentonite  for hair.

Wetting plaster bandages 



We did his ears separately. 

Just about finished.

Ready to pull it off.
Back at the studio, casting into the plaster bandages

Brushing in urethane plastic


I cast ears and nose separately to make the body casting more comfortable
                                             
                                            
                                                          Soaking in very hot water to soften the bandages


bandages softened, beginning to remove




Christie Hackler cleaning up the positive 

Setting up Sculpture for the 2014 Oklahoma Festival of the Arts

This is really the last shot, Anna Rutherford took the photos, had to get her in one of them.

Pulling up at 7:15am in a light drizzle. Wouldn't be an Arts Festival without at least a hint of inclement weather.

Unstrapping the artwork


Positioning Horny Toad Tome in the sculpture tent.

Desert Pastoral, Watership Down, and Horny Toad Tome

Making sure the hook doesn't hit us on the head.

David Phelps & Jose Rodriguez

Sculpture Garden was curated by Tony Morton. (on the left)

Off she goes.

How to make a brick facade…….

turn into a glass facade.

Going down.

Matt was a very skilled crane operator.


Legs next



Perfect!

New Sculpting Room Open for Business!

Today I'm sculpting in the new room. My office was flooded during the tornado in the spring of 2013. I decided to completely reconfigure the space into a sculpting room. It now has 10 foot ceilings, decent full spectrum lighting and a nice bathroom. Let the fun begin!




Anna Rutherford chasing waxes and also shot most of the photos in this post.

resuming work on the .6 X life-size American Beauty.

New Bathroom









Jose Rodriguez working on shelves for his new house

This is what the space looked like after the storm. Corbin Schroeder doing demolition.