History of Bronze
Written by Christian Bell and Kim Nikolaev Bronze is the most common and widely used metal to cast sculptures around the world. An alloy consisting mostly of copper, its malleability…
Tools of Bollinger Atelier
A tape measure, chip brush, and dental tools hang on a wall. This isn’t the beginning of a joke but rather important tools used in our foundry as we make…
Sand Casting vs. Ceramic Shell
Animations by Ron Lyons, Written by Daniel Mariotti, Photographs and Video by Daniel Mariotti SAND CASTING The typical process of creating a sand casting starts with the “cope” or the…
Wax – Lost Wax Process
Written by Daniel Mariotti Photographs by Daniel Mariotti Wax is usually the 2nd major step in the casting process. From rolling, dressing, and gating; in this blog, we will briefly…
Metal Shrinkage – from Original to Bronze
Written by Daniel Mariotti Photos and Graphics by Daniel Mariotti It’s important for artists to understand that transforming their work into bronze, a sculpture’s size shrinks. When an original bronze…
Understanding the Use of Sealants and Mold Releases
Written by Daniel Mariotti Photos and Video by Daniel Mariotti Much of what happens when an original from an artist first enters the shop (aside from taking detailed photographs) is…
How to Charge a Crucible
Written by Daniel Mariotti Photos and Video by Daniel Mariotti With the furnace off, pre-load the crucible with small scrap and returns. Then, ingots can be carefully added. Dropping heavy charge…
Prepping Bronze for Patina
Written by Daniel Mariotti Photos by Daniel Mariotti How to prep a bronze for patina: *For any patina work you are doing, make sure the appropriate safety equipment, such as…
Sculpture After Care
Written by Daniel Mariotti Photos and Graphics by Daniel Mariotti Caring for a sculpture is one of the most overlooked steps in owning it. When a patina is put on,…
Brass Vs Bronze
Written by Daniel Mariotti A quick history of brass and bronze. The discovery of bronze dates back to about 3500 BC and the Sumerians. It is harder than pure iron…