Pondering Shape

T BARNY SCULPTURE NEWS
Can you believe it's still raining? It's almost June! My tarp is back over the front of my studio and the heater is on. I just finished a new piece I carved from Mexican Fluorite. Here is the picture of "Congomen". It shows what kind of stone I'm talking about. "Congomen" was created and sold in 2007. The new fluorite piece I just finished has a lot of purple, light green and dark teal. I brought it into the gallery at lunchtime and I'm pondering the shape. It has more of a horizontal flow to it than my typical swirls and pointed, swaying tops. This year I have been stretching myself to create musical instruments out of stone, cast my bronzes in jewel-tone colors and carve my classic beauties all at the same time. This new fluorite piece seems to suggest through its shape that I'm expanding my focus, my ideas and my direction all at the same time. Just something to ponder...

Rain or Shine

T BARNY SCULPTURE NEWS
Rain or Shine - It's Studio Time. I just finished a superellipsoid shape like the piece, AERIE, pictured on the left but in this gorgeous stone Iranian Onyx, like KORALL pictured on the right. It's a jewel if I do say so! The veining and dark areas of the stone are highlighted in the design. This weather is unbelievable in May. We had a 1/2" of rain on Monday. It's now Wednesday and it's still raining. I can't believe I'm still using my studio heater but it's keeping me going on my new collection of work.

Polishing Bronzes

T BARNY SCULPTURE NEWS
Elbow grease, the right wax and time make my bronzes shine. Just picked up 6 new pieces at the bronze foundry; 5 more will be ready next week. My galleries are selling and so I'm always getting ready for what's next. Polishing the bronzes brings out the texture and depth of the patinas. For my interior bronze sculptures I like to use "Johnson's Miniwax" paste; it is typically available at your local hardware store. To apply, I use a clean rag to cover a small area about 5 inches by 5 inches with the wax. Immediately I buff it with a second CLEAN rag. This thin wax coating will protect the sculpture and keep its luster. For my exterior bronze sculptures I like to use "Optimum Car Wax"; it has a patented UV System that helps prevent fading from the sun. I spray the entire surface with Optimum and them immediately buff it with a CLEAN soft rag. This spray wax is as durable as a paste wax and will last up to 5 months. www.optimumcarcare.com. Polish and enjoy!