October 6, 2011 Part 5: The Process of Bronze – Patina
La Promenade Female will illustrate the final highly important step in the casting process: patina.
The Art of Patination
The beginning of patination was introduced in 12thcentury Asia and toward the end of the dark ages in Europe. The patina artists developed methods of mimicking the mottled greens produced from years under the sea, the vibrant blues of being buried for generations in an alkali soil and the rich reds and browns which accented the bronzes in more acidic regions.
The patineur will apply chemical solutions to achieve the desired color. Each patina is intrinsically unique, giving the bronze exclusivity and enhanced value.
Individual solutions are sprayed onto the sculpture one layer at a time creating rich, dimensional color.
“Liver of sulfer” is used, making the surface nearly black.
An abrasive pad is used to scrub back the surface, revealing “natural” bronze highlights on the outer surfaces while leaving the dark color in the recesses. To achieve a Corbin Bronze Natural Patina, the process is completed here by brushing on paste wax.
For a green/brown patina, as seen on most Corbin sculptures, several more steps are taken layering brown and then green patina formulas. Below, ferric nitrate (brown) to start…
A cupric nitrate formula is sprayed on the surface which will turn the surface green.
A coat of paste wax is applied while the surface is still hot, making the green partially recede while the rich browns emerge.
See the finished work: La Promenade Female
Photography by Ron Berg
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- Posted under In the studio, Process
