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Hi Theresa! You suffered through the whole thing? Or zipped off to the end? ;-) Yes, the limited palette is efficient and effective. And of course, artistic license allows us to add something later if needed. I was surprised by how much I liked the redo. But it no longer looks quite like how it looked at the end of this video. Funny how photographs and videos of the work lends a fresh eye. The medium is not so important... each has its perks and challenges. Each has its own voice. As you may remember, I learned pastels while learning street painting in Florence. Shocking how vibrant the colors can be! Thank you for watching and commenting here! Big hugs to you.

@@BorsheimArts Yes, I watched the whole thing. We miss you, glad you're doing well.

@@visualartist2024 Thanks so much! I love our friendship!

The clay is plastilina, Tan AB-225 to be specific. I bought it decades ago from John Reynolds. It is a wax-based clay (instead of oil-based). I love it! The rubber mold consists of two parts you mix up as needed. The fiberglass is the same (2 parts). I bought them at a sculpture mold making supply shop. I showed them the portrait sculpture I did before this project and asked them what I needed for it... then the rest was used here. Thank you for your question.

That sounds interesting. I have never had a problem with the foam curing. But perhaps it is because I have several projects going on all of the time and just occupy myself with other work, giving the foam plenty of time to cure.

@@nancyseiler2844 Yes, thank you! It was fun, but small and thus not terribly complicated.

What grain, please?

oh, how kind of you, Paul! However, I spent about three hours doing what my frame shop man suggested to separate the oil painting on paper from the foam core backing, only to destroy the art. Basically, I used a soft sponge with lots of a mild soap and water to soften the simple school-type white glue. I worked very slowly to peel back and separate the canvas, trying my best to pull across the page in the same direction all of the paper. I used my fingers more often than not, and a wide putty knife to help open up a section since my fingers are much fatter than a knife. However, as expected, the paper supporting the oil paint, also got soft... and in some places torn, wrinkled, or other fun damage from the slow trauma of separation. I needed four hands, a large tray that could "float" the entire artwork and let it sit in the soapy water to dissolve the glue without traumatizing the painting paper. I also got "moon dents" from trying to roll the canvas away... more as I got further down the line in the separating process because the free section of painting kept flopping in my way. Not fun and angry with myself. I mostly saved the portrait of the two women. The next day I set the artwork out in the sun for hours in an attempt to fully kill the mold spores. flipped a time or two, while I debated if I wanted to try to repair the art. In the end, I accepted the demise and decided that I learned that I do not want to "permanently" mount art paper to foam core (unless small?). I am unlikely to paint on paper again (since putting behind glass is an annoying viewing experience for the art). But now, I no longer trust that wall to not re-grow mold. For the moment, I will only use it to photograph art on a solid background, but never leave anything hanging there. I am confused by that because that wall gets a lot of sun. However, last year, three broken roof tiles were replaced and the lake of mold in the attic supposedly cured... hmmmm.. good luck on your project!

You may be on to something there! I will have to try this if I get another commission in bronze. Thank you!

That could work. An easier solution, perhaps, would have been to either wax the board or treat it with something that does not stick to the fiberglass BEFORE making the mold. Wax would also not stick to the rubber mold, and is far easier to handle (and flatter) than plastic wrap. I want the original sculpture to stay on the board and I do not want his edges changed. I tend to keep my original artworks for as long as I can hold out not needed to reuse the plastilina. That habit saved me once when a foundry stored my mold for "Gregg" in a sunny or hot place. When I called to see if the mold was still in good condition before I broke down the original wax sculpture, his response of "perfect" gave me pause. I went to the foundry and discovered the rubber had melted where it was exposed to air at the bottom of the sculpture. At lease I still had the original wax is good shape and yet, I was furious that I had to make a new mold. Would have been more angry if I had taken his word for it! I now store all of my own molds. [sidetrack, sorry]

In addition, the two-part molds are not so thick. The fiberglass mold would have been must less work to remove where it touched the board if I was not recovering from spine surgery. Using my arms means shoulder muscles and upper back muscles, at the minimum... it is what I have trouble with even now, a year after my accident and subsequent surgery.

​@BorsheimArts I work mainly with concrete, and I use plastic wrap a lot 😅. ...I have never done any molds of any sorts, so I don't really know much about it. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I have these tree edge molds, that is to form a ring around the tree and one of them is cracking. I'm going to have to make a mold for it because they don't sell this one in particular anymore. Hope you have a full recovery 🙏

@@sangueguerriero9538 Thank you. I hope your mold turns out well! I appreciate your comments.

Thank you, Nancy! The subject is my nephew August. I am working from a photo I took of him some years ago. I just loved his impatient expression as he was "Waiting for the Sunrail," the title for this painting. The calming voice may be due to the repetitive patterns I am painting.... a bit of meditation. :-)

Thank you! I enjoy working, so we have a good partnership! :-)

Yes, that is a good way to put it, Nancy! I often feel that artists are solving problems. And mostly trying to communicate brain to brain (and if we are lucky, souls) using visual clues. Thank you for your comment here!

Thank you so much! You may see the finished sculpture here, Helping Hands in Bardiglio marble: borsheimarts.com/collections/stone-sculpture/products/helping-hands-bardiglio-marble-sculpture

Thank you! I had fun shopping the pastry shops for the model. And then eating them afterwards was a lovely experience :-) I am happy that you like the colors. I prefer to ease into the mornings, so I am happy to have feedback that the painting is calming thus far.

Thank you for taking the time to watch and give me such lovely feedback. Cheers, Kelly

Thanks, @RovexHD. Snap? I suppose yes if thin. It is insulation foam that is used to keep drafts from entering window edges. To make free standing snakes, or anything, you first need to build an armature (metal for an extended curving piece is probably best). The armature must be strong enough without moving or collapsing to hold not only the foam, but also the wax and/or clay that you put on top of the foam AND the weight of the mold materials (rubber, fiberglass or plaster). The point of an armature is to add strength for the entire process, but it helps if it also can take up volume so that you use fewer materials.

Thank you for your question, Robert. I suppose that the foam would melt if the sculpture is heated, but so would the plastilina (wax-based clay). This sculpture you see here is only the model. You may make the model in any material that you like working with. After I am happy with how this looks, then I made a 2-part mold of the artwork. The mold is used to create a consistently thin wax copy (think chocolate hollow bunny for Easter treats). The wax is then reworked as needed and if the sculpture is larger than the crucible (container that can hold molten bronze of about 2000 degrees F), then the sculpture is cut up into pieces for separate casting. Later those pieces are welded together and those weld lines removed. Bronze casting is a very complicated process.

I appreciate your question also because I only now realized that I never edited and posted the videos I hope that I shot while making the mold for this portrait. I only had a few days to do it before getting on a plane. In any event, I DID post the 2-part mold videos that I made for a smaller wall-art sculpture. That link is here: th-cam.com/video/1bL7MiqNIrI/w-d-xo.html Thank you for watching and commenting! The sculpture I made here is still on a stand in my kitchen. Shortly after the bronze was cast, I broke two vertebrae in my rib cage area. Even now, 9 months after the surgery, I am quite limited in what I can do. But I really wanted to finish this face for a spigot/faucet for some friends. They have now waited a year for it! Yikes. I am making it in two materials (less expensive than bronze): concrete and terra-cotta/ceramic.

Glad you think so! Thanks, Carol! xx

That is kind of you. Thank you... working on a new video these days. Stay tuned!

@@BorsheimArts You're welcome! You bet I will stay turned for your new video,your creations are beautiful. Take care!

@@ChriG-c6p And you. Thanks again.

Thank you!! 😊 And thanks for subscribing to my channel. I hope to be able to post more as my healing comes along.

Hi Theresa! I do not think that I realize this was you.... brain got hurt in my accident, too. ;-)

@@BorsheimArts Wishing you all the best, Kelly. ❤‍🩹

You are welcome. I appreciate the feedback! Happy New Year.

Well, thank you. You may note that I am also not drawing any stick figures here! :-)

Thanks 😅

I just saw this comment! Thank you, Cody! Happy 2024!

Thank you so much, Günther!

Thank you, Gresham! I appreciate the feedback. I must admit, though, that I have no idea of what you are talking about. I mean that I know on some of the videos, the sound is crackly... I think depending on distance or closeness of my mouth to the phone or Sony... but I am not tech savvy enough to understand your words on how to fix the problem. I get overwhelmed at times by tech. oy. Still, once I finish this project and upcoming trip, hopefully I can take some time to learn more about making quality videos. Thank you again!

@@BorsheimArts I understand, I get overwhelmed all the time by tech too.

Obrigado. Thank you. That is kind of you to write.

Thank you. I fear I need editing, but in my experiences as a teacher, one learns that repetition is helpful to have the information go into long-term memory. I really appreciate your feedback. Happy sculpting!

no worries, his time under the knife will come. Good pumpkin risotto! Thanks for taking the time to comment. The portrait work continues.

@@BorsheimArts that sounds delicious and of course

Thank you! I appreciate the feedback. Happy carving!

Thank you, Ri m! Sadly, I had to set this marble aside to work on my bronze portrait commission. I cannot wait to return to "Anticipation." I appreciate your feedback and time.

Yes, this is marble from Carrara, Italy.

Thank you, Ron! I am glad you found this useful/helpful. Are you working on a portrait now?

Yes, I am working on a bronze portrait commission now. How are you?

So glad you enjoyed the musings of my mind, Richard! Thank you.

Thank you! Just today bought some rough sanding paper to start seriously the polishing stage.

Thank you so much for the feedback, Juanita!

Thanks so much, Phil. Lovely to hear. I only see the unfinished parts... hahhaha... But I added several more coats of the "wet look" stone sealer on all of the letters. The contrast really helps the visibility of the sign, especially because of the location where they had to install it (since a neighbor is not the permitting type to leave it on her sliver of land close to the road). I hope that things are well with you and your family!

Well it is very lovely and dimensional. Installations on large stones are typically stressful but you got it done with what you had and people you had to work with. So, well done to you. Maybe you don't see it so much as art, but others do. I do consider you a fantastic artist in multiple mediums. I bought 3 of your prints on aluminum from the business on your website. One was the Table for Two which was a gift for the wine maker who is now leasing our original building. He has a light on it in his tasting room and it looks great. His wife thought it was a photo and not a painting. I bought the others in aluminum for reasons I won't share on this reply, but they were perfect for my purpose. The business I bought from selling your prints was good to deal with by the way. Someone with your talent and ability is deserving of fame and wealth. Best to you and carry on to bless the world with your art.

@@140lbs Thank you so much for buying my prints on metal! I love those and they are so low maintenance. For anyone else who might want to see some of the images I have online for metal prints (and many other objects), go here: fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-kelly-borsheim and www.redbubble.com/people/BorsheimArts/shop

Thank you.

Thank you!

Thank you! That is so kind and I appreciate your time here.

hahah... and what exactly would THAT be?