Bronze Casting Workshops on Waiheke Island

Bronze casting workshop.
Hands-on, practical creative workshop with Olivier Duhamel on Waiheke Island.

Read details below or visits bodyscape.net.nz 5 days Bronze Casting Workshop $600 Two options: 1- Five consecutive days (Monday to Friday) 2- Two consecutive week ends Course outline: This 5 or 4 day practical workshop teaches the lost wax technique as used by modern art foundries. The process has been adapted and scaled down to make it easily achievable. The workshop demystifies the bronze casting process and is suitable to anyone over the age of 16. Sculptors, ceramicists, glass artists, wood carvers, furniture and classical boat restorers, DIY enthusiasts, art students, craft people, model makers, jewellers and goldsmiths and any creative person wanting to expand their skills and knowledge. No previous experience necessary. At the end of the course, students have made a solid and durable bronze sculpture. Topics: Day one - Wax working. Students are making a small sculpture in wax. - Advantages of wax as a sculpting medium - What is wax? - Safety considerations - Melting wax - Sculpting (Painting, modelling, carving, texturing) - Some models ideas and design criteria at the bottom of this page. Day Two - "Sprueing" The wax sculpture will then prepared for the mold. The basics or wax working are further explored. - Basic principle - Making wax cups - Making wax rods and tubes - Assembling the Mold - Welding wax Day 3 - "Shelling up" The wax structure is encased in a ceramic mold, called “shell”, which is painted in its liquid form in several layers over the wax and then left to dry. Take the afternoon off to visit our wonderful Island (Art galleries, vineyards, beaches, walking tracks and more...) - Mixing the “slurry” (Molochite Flour – Colloidal Silica ) - The importance of drying. - Pre-coat - First coat - Second coat Applying the "slurry" Day Four - Finishing the shell The shell is further build up - Third, fourth and fifth coat Dewaxing. Once the shell is dry, you will use a gas torch to melt the wax out of the shell. This is called “de-waxing” or “burning out”. You will then have an empty negative of your original shape, - Using a strong gas torch - Avoiding fissures - Fixing fissures - Reinforcing the shell Day Five - Baking, melting and finishing. Baking the shell - A simple ceramic blanket furnace - Setting the shell upside down in sand Melting and pouring A simple temporary furnace needs to be built and metal melted inside a crucible before it is poured in the empty shell. This is the most exciting part of the process. Do not be intimidated, the method is both safe and easy. - Constructing a simple furnace - Safety considerations - Adjusting the gas torch - Evaluating metal temperature - Pouring Knocking off and chasing Once the metal has cooled and solidified, the shell can be knocked off to free the newborn bronze sculpture. It will then need to be cleaned and any imperfections smoothed out. This process is called “chasing”. - Knocking off the shell - Cleaning off the ceramic shell - Cutting off "sprues" - Fixing defects "Knocking off" Cleaning the ceramic off the bronze Patina Finally, the new sculpture will be given a surface finish. This is known as patina. - Heat patina - Natural patina - Chemical patina - Final sealing For the week end option, the tutor will finishing the shells (day 3 and 4) on behalf of the students during the week so that the second week end is dedicated to melting the metal and finishing the pieces. Course Roll: Minimum 4 students- Maximum 8 All materials included. No previous experience necessary. Dress appropriately. No particular physical strength required. Watch a video clip of what you will be doing during the workshop. Pricing, bookings and Inquiries: The Bronze casting workshop cost $600 and includes all material as well as a free copy of the "Bronze casting manual" Inquiries to Olivier Duhamel 09 372 7220 or Olivier.Duhamel@bodyscape.net.nz Secure your place now.  A $100 deposit will secure your place now. The balance is due on the first day. Dates: 5 day workshop Monday 19 September to Friday 23 September 2011 Monday 10 October to Friday 14 October 2011 Monday 14 November to Friday 18 November 2011 Monday 12 December to Friday 16 December 2011 Monday 23 January to Friday 27 January 2012 Monday 20 February to Friday 24 February 2012 Monday 19 March to Friday 23 March 2012 Monday 16 April to Friday 20 April 2012 Monday 21 May to Friday 25 May 2012 2 week ends workshop Sat/Sun26-27 November 2011 and Sat/Sun 3-4 December 2011 Sat/Sun3-4 March 2012 and Sat/Sun 10-11 March 2012 Ask me for future dates. What to bring? Simply bring something to eat for lunch (sandwich etc...) and perhaps togs and towel for a swim at the beach. Bring old clothes that you will not fear soiling. Bring a camera to record the action. Discounts: Get a group of 5 friends together and get your own workshop 1/2 price. Gift vouchers: gift vouchers are available for purchase and are valid for 12 months. Location:  Depending on weather and numbers, the workshop is held either at the tutor's studio 49 Church bay road in Oneroa or at the Redshed Art Collectives on Palm beach "The Redshed", Palm beach View Larger Map Ferry timetable: From Downtown Auckland with Fullers From Half Moon bay (Howick) with Sealink Buying 10 trips ticket will save you money. You can easily travel every day from Auckland or decide to stay on the Island for a few days. See accommodation options below. Accommodation: Waiheke Island Resort www.waihekeresort.co.nz Palm Beach Bungalows www.palmbeachbungalows.com Hekerua Lodge www.hekerualodge.co.nz Kina backpackers kinabackpackers.co.nz The Boat Shed www.boatshed.co.nz (5 stars) Delamore Lodge www.delamorelodge.com (5 stars) Many other options: Waiheke Unlimited Or stay with your tutor's family and enjoy traditional french family cooking. ($50 per night per person, including breakfast and dinner.) Testimonials "It was all very clear. We had a good time making new friends. I feel I have learnt enough to cast more bronzes by myself at home" Trudy, the Netherland "It was awesome Olivier. I loved my bronze retreat on Waiheke. Learning new skills, making new friends, having a few beers, swims at the beach... and a beautiful sculpture. A week well invested!" Debbie, Kunuaka “Thank you for the pleasant time I spent with you learning bronze casting techniques. You are a great teacher and good company too. I like my little whale and will display it proudly.” J.Worsell – Auckland Your Tutor: Olivier Duhamel is a figurative sculptor specialising in bronze figurines. Classical and elegant in style, his creations do not convey any particular message, do not attempt any conceptual or symbolist exploration, nor do they search to be innovative at all cost. Olivier Duhamel is rather simply trying to capture the beauty and sensuality of his subject of study. Like few other sculptors, Olivier Duhamel casts his own bronzes in is home foundry. This allows him to maintain full control over the entire creative process. He prides himself on the quality of his craftsmanship. A New Zealander since 1987 French born Olivier Duhamel lives and works on Waiheke Island. He warmly welcomes visitors to his home studio and workshop. His bronze works are sold in galleries across New Zealand and Australia but also in France, Belgium and China. He is the author of "Bronze Casting Manual" and a "Body Casting Manual"