Trail Bronze Ivy - Evidence & Evaluation

The idea of casting an organic form in bronze is something neither i or the 3D technicians have done before. The first attempt either of use had done was the ginkgo leaves which i produced last unit. I wanted to challenge my new skills and take the casting up a level. I though if i can cast something as delicate as a leaf why not a branch with leaves or a vine. I brought this idea to the 3D technicians who informed me that it was very unlikely that it was going to work. However i decided to push forward and at least trail different methods to hopefully find a method that would work. 

Thinking back to when i was apply wax to the ginkgo leaves, the best method was to avoid getting any wax on the front of the leaves. The front part of the leaf is where the definition in the veins will be most visible and therefore any wax on the front would interfere with the detailing. I thickened the stalks on the leaves with the wax to allow the bronze to flow more freely into the leaves themselves. I also did this as a result of the ginkgo leaf stalks not casting because they were to thin. It was also suggested by the technicians that i should add another 'feeder' of the bronze to flow down to help reach the very end of the vine and have a continuous definition throughout. It was also suggested that i put in some more 'feeders' at the end of the leaves to make sure the bronze reaches the furthest corners of the leaves. When applying the wax i applied it in different thickness to indicate how thick the wax needs to be to get the best possible cast. The more wax the more likely it will cast however the thicker the wax the more artificial it will look and will resulted in the bronze needing to be worked more which could result in the form looking over worked and less natural. 

Before 'feeder' to leaves were added

'Feeder' added to leaves

All feeders and runners added to allow both the bronze and gas to flow evenly