In The Studio

Mary Tyler Moore

Gwendolyn Gillen is seen here working on the life-size sculpture of Mary Tyler Moore as Mary Richards.

I never digitally scan live models to create my sculptures. All my figures are sculpted by hand. This process, though ancient and time-consuming, gives the finest result because it imparts a lively quality to the sculpture which cannot be found in digital reproduction. It is like the difference between a photograph and a painting — A great photograph is a great photograph. A great painting is a masterpiece.

The process:

1) Clay maquette sculpted 1/3 life-size.

2) Foam enlargement of the maquette.

3) Clay over the foam is sculpted to final detail.

4) Bronze ready for installation.

After completing the clay sculpture, it will go on to moldmaking where it gets its flexible rubber mold and plaster mothermold made. When it comes out of moldmaking we will make a wax casting.

This wax cast then goes to wax chasing, where it will have the surface restored to look exactly like the original sculpture. All casting blemishes will be removed. It will then be gated for casting and will proceed to the investment area. Here it will be invested and then be put in a burnout kiln to have the wax burned out of the casting mold.

The casting mold is then ready to receive the molten bronze. After the bronze has been poured into the molds, they are cooled and then divested (or have the investment broken from the metal).

The sculpture then goes to the metal finisher where it has the gates removed and is welded together and the surface is restored to look like the original sculpture.

It is now ready for its patina (or coloring). The sculpture is heated and chemicals are applied to color the surface of the bronze. Typically these colors are either a rich brown or green, but many other effects can be achieved. The sculpture is now complete.