The Making of
Mermaid
From clay and wax to patinated bronze
This series of photographs documents the making of Mermaid, a commissioned sculpture created for a pond. It follows the work from the first stages in the studio to the final bronze, showing how the sculpture develops through modelling, mould making, casting, assembly, and patination. Both in the studio and in the foundry, the process is carefully carried out by hand.
Modelling the figure
Early modelling in clay and wax
Building the Structure
To create the extended form of the tail, a lightweight internal structure is built using large plastic tubes normally used for electrical installations. These are assembled to form the underlying shape, then wrapped with cotton and bandage to build up the volume. A layer of glue is applied to harden the structure and prepare it for further modelling.
Building the tail with a lightweight internal structure
Creating the scales
The surface of the tail is built up one element at a time. The scales are made from bingo tokens, each one individually glued into place to create a regular, repeating pattern across the form.
The scales are built up one by one
The scales are built up one by one
Working with a live model
A live model is used as reference for the position of the hand holding the shells. This helps establish a gesture that feels natural and structurally convincing within the sculpture.
Study for the hand holding shells
Preparing the Mould
Once the original model is complete, the foundry makes a mould around it. In this stage, the original model is sacrificed in order to create the form from which the bronze will be cast.
Preparing the mould for casting
Casting in bronze
The sculpture is cast in bronze in separate sections, including the head, arms, body, and tail, allowing each part to be finished with precision before assembly. The sections are then welded together, after which the surface is cleaned, chased, and polished by hand so that the joins disappear and the sculpture reads as a single, unified form. All work in the foundry is carried out by hand.
Freshly cast in bronze
Patination
Once the surface has been fully finished, the bronze is patinated. This process involves applying acid to the heated metal in order to develop the final colour. Different tones can be achieved at this stage, depending on the desired finish.
Applying the patina
Applying the wax finish
After the sculpture has cooled, a final layer of wax is applied. This protects the surface, enriches the patina, and gives the bronze a soft sheen.
Final surface treatment
