Pond Sculpture Garden Art

Dear Art Lover,

     Last year I created a bronze sculpture to put into a pond [it sits over the water, not really submerged since there may be fish involved].  Here are images of the fairly sizeable artwork:

"Rock Towers and Frogs" /
Torri di sassi e Rane

bronze fountain sculpture
approx. 43" h x 24" w x 24" d [114 x 60 x 53 cm, 57 kg]**
© 2016 

Kelly Borsheim

     I am taking orders only on this work, in part because I have no storage space to create the bronze ahead of time.  But do not let that stop you!  Gardens are always works-in-progress and quality takes time.  A downpayment is all it takes to get the bronze started.  Contact me if you would like to know more.

In the meantime, here are more images of the finished bronze, as well as some of the work-in-progress [WIP]

http://www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture/2016/RockTowersFrogGardenSculpture.htm

     I also had written a new art newsletter that I think I may have forgotten to post here on the blog.  It shows you pictures of my crazy family and an image or two from the wedding in late April in Florida.  The wedding portrait I made to my sister Dani and her new husband Joe’s specs was a hit with them… what a relief, what a challenge! 

http://www.borsheimarts.com/news/201706_Artnews_PondSculpture.htm

     I hope your summer has been going well.  I move slower than usual [which my mother told me that if I ever did that, people might bury me… hahah, whoops!], but am making forward progress.  Still in therapy for my broken wrist, and trying to take the time to heal my knee properly so that I can get back to full-time art-making.

     Thanks for hanging in here with me.  I hope to show you new work in August!

Peace,

Kelly Borsheim, artist

http://BorsheimArts.com

Sculpture Armature

Dear Art Lover,

    

     There are times when I realize just how much I left back in Texas.  Today, I am referring to my sculpture tools and supplies.  In the end, I found no reason to turn down what I hope will be a fun commission experience.  I had previously wondered if I would ever create another bronze after being disappointed with an experience I had with a foundry last year.  Now, it seems I will learn something about at least one foundry in Italia.

     Anyway, despite all the supplies and tools I have in storage in Texas, they will not do me any good in Italia.  So, I have bought wire and am using things that I find in and around my home.  It turns out that my landlord once again saves my days.  Not only does he allow me to borrow his tools, he also used to work in a metal shop.  Recently we drove together to Firenze to pick up in his van some furniture that I had bought from a friend.  Along the way he pointed out many of the greenhouses that he helped to create and install in Tuscany.   

     Thursday we returned with his dog Gregory to his former place of work and he cut a few pipe parts and grabbed a small metal “slab” and welded together a pipe to the base and created an adjustable horizontal bar to my specs.  This will be the part of the sculpture armature that will add extra support outside of the actual sculpture.  The sculpture will also have metal under the clay, or I may be using foam under the larger sections…just woke up from a nap with an idea on how I might be able to solve I problem that I have been mulling over.  Will keep you posted, if it works!

Gregory, the puppy, is not a fan of welding.  Tuscany, Italy

     Anyway, here is an image of the welding being done.  My landlord’s dog Gregory did NOT like the fire and apparently is a brave one, even at five months old.  He kept running right up into the work area and tugging on his companion’s pant legs to “save him.”  It was cute, and you may see a few more images of Gregory at work on my Facebook page.  However, it was dangerous and soon after this shot, I grabbed the puppy during a break from the fire and took him into another room to distract him.

The armature is what supports the weight of the clay and future mold.

      This second image I took today.  It shows a definite work-in-progress!  I am creating a bronze sculpture, possibly to also exist as a fountain if the new owners choose, that will in any event sit down inside of a small circular pond.  The upside down bucket you see is a visual space holder.  I want to create a design that looks beautiful above the top ledge of the wall, as well as have it look good as one approaches the pond and looks down into the well. I moved everything inside since we have been having many days of rain lately.

     This sculpture is an adaptation and enlargement of my original bronze “Cattails and Frog Legs” that I described in my last post here:

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2016/05/frogs-and-cattails-pond-sculpture.html

See more images of the bronze here:

http://www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture/2007/froglegs.htm

I hope your weekend was a refreshing change of pace from your normal week.  Please share any of these posts that you find interesting.

Peace,

Kelly

http://BorsheimArts.com

Frogs and Cattails Pond Sculpture

Dear Art Lover,

    

     Recently I received a request to enlarge and make a few changes to my original bronze sculpture “Cattails and Frog Legs” for a pond.  The new composition will be over twice the size of the original piece for outdoor exhibition.  Being a bronze, the small work will also suit for outdoors; however, it will work better in a smaller garden, or at least a more intimate space, perhaps a small entryway or even an interior?

     I also like the frog and lily pad base to be exhibited resting on top of a mirrored tile.  The mirror’s reflections tend to resemble the effect of water.  I have seen tiles around 12” x 12” and perhaps they are also made in the 18” x 18” size?  Ask for them in your local hardware or home décor store.

     While I was looking through my images of the smaller bronze sculpture for reference, I came across this fun picture from when I was casting several bronzes in the limited edition when I lived and worked in central Texas.  It is a box full of newly cast bronze froggies!  They still need to be chased (a bronze term meaning to remove the bronze sprues and otherwise clean up the sculpture with metal-working tools).

Box of newly "hatched" bronze froggies by Kelly Borsheim

Bronze sculpture

"Cattails and Frog Legs"

bronze sculpture
limited edition of 99
19" h x 7" w x 6" d
© 2007 Kelly Borsheim

This bronze is available for only $1500, with the Layaway Plan available if that interests you.  She will ship from Austin, Texas, so if you send me a mailing address, I can get you a shipping quote as well.  You may see more images of “Cattails and Frog Legs” here:

http://www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture/2007/froglegs.htm

Thank you for your interest and I will be showing you images of the new composition in the months ahead.

Bronze Frog detail of sculpture by Kelly Borsheim

Peace,

Kelly

http://BorsheimArts.com