FREE WAX OFFER
The foundry ran a range of practical, hands-on courses that provided the opportunity to learn about the casting process and create pieces of your own work.
The courses were run in collaboration with other organisations, including Yorkshire Sculpture Park, as well as at our own studio in Liverpool.
This well-established course reached its sixth year at the park. Participants enjoyed five days of creative and practical, hands-on training in the inspirational surroundings of the internationally acclaimed sculpture park. By bringing along ideas and an open mind, attendees learned how to create sculptures directly in wax and took home two hand-sized bronzes, cast and finished by themselves.
Bronze founder Chris Butler served as teacher and guide as the group explored lost wax casting and worked with the ceramic shell process. As director of Castle Fine Arts, he had worked with artists for over twenty-five years. Drawing on a lifetime of bronze casting expertise and knowledge, Chris provided insight into the workings of the modern art foundry and shared some of the secrets of this ancient craft.
At the moment no courses are scheduled
Send us an email to: info@bronzefoundry.co.uk
Subject: Courses with your details: First name, Surname, Telephone, Address and Postcode
“The course was brilliant!… It was broken down into manageable tasks so you were able to fully understand the processes & techniques.”
“I am a complete novice amongst people with a range of experience and the course catered for all.”
“Chris Butler is an excellent communicator, knows his stuff backwards and facilitated me making something for the first time since I was 13!”
Day one is devoted to creating your original sculptures in wax and starts with a introduction to wax as creative material and demonstrations of it’s sculptural application. Each piece will be cast directly in ceramic shell, making each one totally unique.
We work on the sculptures in the morning and in the afternoon we start the casting process. You will learn about runners and risers, and prepare the wax for the casting process. Later we’ll start to make the shells.
Is shell making day with time to enjoy a walk in the park. Chris will talk about the casting of sculpture in front of large works cast by Castle Fine Arts.
We turn up the heat as we de-wax and fire the shells in the kiln. In the afternoon we light up the furnace to melt and pour the bronze.
Is devoted to metal work, using power and hand tools to finish the pieces. Finally, we complete the course colouring the bronzes with traditional chemical patination techniques.
Salford Firsts - Emma Rogers
You are welcome to view our studios first hand. Please contact us to arrange your foundry visit.
Testimonials
