Bronze sculpture doesn’t truly come to life at the foundry—it happens afterward, in the skilled, hands-on work that follows. This video offers a behind-the-scenes look at the chasing and patination process I use to transform a raw bronze casting into a finished bear sculpture ready for gallery walls or private collections.
What begins as a rough casting returns from the foundry marked by cut gates, risers, and small openings left from the ceramic shell. These are not flaws, but necessary remnants of the casting process. Back in my garage studio, the real refinement begins.
Through grinding, hand chasing, and detailed work with a Dremel, I restore the surface and reestablish the character and texture of the original sculpture. Each weld—filled using bronze rod and TIG welding—is chased back into the form so it disappears entirely, leaving no trace of interruption.
Once the surface is resolved, the sculpture is prepared for patina. After sandblasting and wire brushing, the bronze is clean, receptive, and ready for color.
Heat is applied and the first chemical layers begin to react with the bronze. I typically start with liver of sulfur, then build depth using additional compounds such as cupric nitrate, carefully controlling tone and variation. Water cooling allows me to preview the final appearance before sealing.
The process concludes with lacquer and wax to enhance and protect the finish, followed by final details to the base – in this case I use felt and finally my studio seal. Only then is the piece complete and ready to leave the studio.
This final stage of the work is where craftsmanship meets intention. It’s where texture is refined, character is revealed, and each bronze bear takes on its final presence and my original vision is fulfilled.
This final stage is where the sculpture earns its presence. Every decision—every surface, tone, and finish—is deliberate, ensuring the piece carries both technical integrity and character.
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