Not the final piece by any means, but you do have the raw

beginnings of a bronze sculpture.

The pouring and casting of the bronze depends on

the size of the sculpture. For example, lets say this is a

large bronze sculpture or a piece with extreme detail; then

the casting and pouring for each part must be done

separately. Whenever you see a very detailed or large

sculpture you can be sure it was cast in parts.

Even medium sculptures, the size of a dog or child,

must have the legs, arms, head, and body cast individually

in order to give likeness and strong detail to the sculpture.

There is great danger here because the artist must separate

the clay parts from the model before doing the wax casting.

Talk about nerve wracking! ­ Should anything happen to

one of these fragile clay pieces during the cutting or before

the wax cast is made, the entire artwork is lost and the artist

will have to start from nothing. A "repair" or "replacement"

of even a limb or smaller detail can throw the final sculpture

off and make it look awkward, if not worse.

Once the wax casting of individual parts is successful

and the bronze has been poured and cooled; it's time for the

artist to weld it all back together. This is another test of will

for the artist, because every angle, position, and joint must

meet in perfect placement. After the bronze sculpture has

been welded together, the welding markings and protruding

seams must be chased down and smoothed out using a

blowtorch and sanding tools.

This entire process is incredibly painstaking,

difficult, and unbearably hot. After a person visits a

foundry (that's where all the melting, molding, and casting

takes place) and watches artist's going through this process

they will never think a sculpture expensive again. It can

take an artist anywhere from several months to a year