Begin 04/01/10 - JJ the Orphaned Baby Grey Whale Project

The following pictures document the process involved in creating a life-sized bronze sculpture of JJ the Orphaned Baby Grey Whale
sculpted by D. Lynn Reeves for the Friends of La Jolla to be installed at Kellog Park in La Jolla, California.
New photos will be posted as steps of the process are completed.

Click here to read a La Jolla Light article about the project and to watch a video of JJ being delivered to the studio.


Original clay sculpture being delivered to BronzeArtwork

Begin mold making: shimming to prepare for mold making

Shimming completed

Applying mold material, several layers

More mold making


Silicon rubber application completed


Building plaster shell to support silicon rubber


Plaster shell nearly complete


Painting wax on molds to reproduce clay original in wax

 


Silicon rubber mold, negative of original sculpture
Wax positive pulled from mold


Several waxes sprued/vented and ready for ceramic shell


Ceramic shell, coating with binder


Ceramic shell, applying sand


Ceramic shell, drying between each coat

 


Removing shell from kiln


Placing shell in sand pit


Pouring bronze

 


First bronze castings


More bronze castings


Refining metal before assembly

 


Bronze assembly begins
Welding bronze sections
Assembly continues



Stainless steel armature assembly


 



Assembly half way complete



Only two panels left...


Internal welding


Two panels remaining


Final panel welded on, sculpture is sealed.


Welding and assembly finished


All metal work complete


Sandblasting


Patina application begins


Hot patina application in progress


Hand burnishing patina finish


Patina nearly complete


Finished sculpture