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martina brouns artwork pythagoras
Auchengeich miner statue silhouette by john mckenna sculpture studio ayrshire scotland

Lost wax Ceramic Shell

Bronze Casting

Gallery slideshow of courses

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Site design by John McKenna, last update Jan 15th 2012, ©copyright of John McKenna sculpture Ltd

A4A Art for Architecture & JohnMcKenna Sculpture Ltd, High McGowanston Studio, Turnberry, Girvan, Ayrshire, Scotland KA26 9JT Tel 01655 332215 http://www.a4a.com

John McKenna adjusting the gas and air on a small furnace
John McKenna adjusting the gas and air on a small furnace
  • John McKenna adjusting the gas and air on a small furnace
  • De moulding a wax cast model with Martina
  • Martina and her Pythagoras wax portrait
  • Students pouring bronze from a lift out crucible furnace
  • Martina's Pythagoras heads cast in bronze
  • Pythagoras head after Martina patinated
  • Beware of wild animals
  • 'Cartipel' cast bronze bowl
  • Audrey working on her wax mask
  • Audrey de-greasing her wax max
  • Audrey shelling her wax mask
  • A portrait head being shelled
  • Small shell investments ready for de-waxing
  • De-waxing investment shells
  • Some students get to pour the big tilting furnace
  • Sunny lunchtimes on sunny McGowanston farm
  • Audrey with her bronze cast mask after knockout
  • 'Bark' bronze cast bowl
  • Judith and Michael making a mould
  • Going through the motions with a cold empty crucible.
  • Judith de-waxing her shell investment
  • Michael burning out his wax cups
  • Judith and Michael dressed for casting
  • Simple furnace in operation
  • Judith working on her casting
  • Patination in progress
  • Finished cupric patination
  • Examples of students work, patinated green
  • Evenings spent walking with the farm Shire horse and foal
  • A casting just after 'knockout' of the shell investment
  • A casting after futher 'knockout' of the shell investment
  • 'Emmental' bronze cast bowl
  • Bette working on her wax bowl
  • Bette dipping her wax bowl into ceramic slurry
  • Bette shelling her wax bowl with ceramic stucco
  • Hot shells in the de-waxing kiln
  • Bette preparing her shell investment for dewax
  • Bette burning out the shell cup
  • Students relief sculpture ready for moulding
  • A foal is born unto us at McGowanston
  • 'Broderie Anglaise' bronze cast bowl
  • Carole working on her head mould
  • The foundry casts lifes size statues for artists
  • "Will it bite me?"
  • Gunther at work on his Antelope relief sculpture
  • Gunther on a 'cold' run of the bronze pouring sequence
  • Gunther at work making a pair of small lift out tongs
  • Gunther still making the lift out tongs
  • Shells being preheated prior to casting into them
  • Pouring bronze with a single pouring ring shank
  • A farm horse surveys a bronze antelope
  • Drinking champagne with the French bronze cast students
  • John McKenna adjusting the gas and air on a small furnace
  • A student loading the crucible with a bronze ingot
  • Amanda working on her wax ivy leaves
  • Amanda's Ivy leaves cast in bronze
  • John McKenna showing Chris various patina recipes
  • Working with various patina recipes
  • Patina recipes being tested on bronze alloys
  • Students work
  • John McKenna with the Auchengeich miner
  • All students wear appropriate Health & Safety equipment
  • 'Nereid' bronze cast bowl
  • Mother & daughter