Q. How are sculptures made?

First an original model (out of clay, wax or other material) is made. After the original model, a mold (negative impression) is made. The mold is then cast in stone, resin with marble bronze dust, or wax for lost wax bronze casting. Each casting is imperfect when it comes out of the mold, and must be finished by smoothing/grinding, and repairing any imperfections that occur. After the surface is sufficiently smooth and polished, then several layers of glaze are used to give it a final patina finish. Each a sculpture is a long labor of love, created by Carol Shireena Sakai - not mass produced or made in a foreign country.

From start to finish - making original model, mold, casting, grinding/polishing casting, and glazing - a sculpture takes approximately 1 month. Each subsequent casting will take about 1 week to finish.

If the casting is made out of 100% bronze using lost wax bronze methods, metal finishing, welding and patina - the process takes about 3 months. If you are interested in a 100% bronze sculpture, please email the artist, and a casting schedule can be arranged. Additionally, any sculpture can be enlarged to make a beautiful garden size bronze piece - call for an estimate.

Q. Do you make the sculptures out of clay?

A. The original sculptures are created in clay.  Then a rubber mold is made out of polyurethane or silicone. Each soft rubber mold is encased in a harder protective "mother mold".  This combination of soft rubber and hard outer "mother mold" is used for future castings. (see illustrations below)

Q. What is the sculpture casting material?

A. The sculptures are cast in hard stone-like material, or a slurry of marble or bronze in a resin. Cast stone is finished to look like stone - with small specks of color in a neutral brown/gray background. Pure white, cast marble can also be special ordered. The price for cast marble is 20% more than for the cast stone.

Casting can also be in wax and prepared in a series of complex steps for lost wax casting and ultimately poured into 100% bronze. Lost wax bronze casting is multi-stepped, complex, requiring 2000 degree Fahrenheit temperatures and extremely labor intensive. This is why 100% bronze is expensive to produce.  Lost wax bronze, is beautiful and virtually indestructable.

Q. What is a limited edition sculpture?

A. Once a mold is created of a sculpture, theoretically an unlimited number of castings could be made.  However, because these are created by hand, the number is limited - for example in case of Athena, the number of casts was limited to around 50, but fewer than that number were created.  On the side of the sculpture you will see the number that is unique to your creation, and receive a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist.

Since each sculpture is done by hand - slight surface imperfections and irregularities, and subtleties of coloration may occur as with all fine hand made objects- they are not like plastic "barbie dolls".

Q. How do I care for my sculpture?

A. Avoid extremes in temperature and excessive sunlight.  Avoid bumping or dropping the sculpture as this will cause chips or breakage similar to that which will occur with fine porcelain or stoneware.  Simple dusting is sufficient to keep the sculpture in good condition, and you can wax it with "Trewax" a clear wax with carnuba once a year to keep it's luster. 
 

1. The original model of Athena is surrounded by the flexible rubber mold on her back & side.  A clay divided is placed under the legs which will have to be chipped away in the final sculpture.

2. The soft rubber mold now completely encases Athena front,  back & side.

3. The rubber mold is now surrounded in the back and sides by the rigid "mother mold".  Since it is rigid, it is formed in many pieces.

4. The hard "mother mold" now completely encase the sculpture. The "mother mold" is shown several pieces.  This is necessary because of its rigidity and, unlike the rubber mold it does not slip easily off the sculpture. The mold is like an egg with a soft interior and hard exerior.

5. The final sculpture is cast by pouring the casting material into the mold.  In the case of  Athena her legs and feet are particularily vulnerable so they are reinforced with steel.  

6. The final sculpture is taken out of the mold.  The rough edges are finished & sanded and polished.  Final glaze coating or patina is applied to the surface of the sculpture to give the sculpture a warm earth tone and with the look of stone, marble or bronze.

The creation of sculpture is a long PROCESS. If all the pieces are not perfectly balanced & fitted (integrated) the cast will be uneven and there will be problems in the finished product.