Image of the portrait for the Miner and Pony Sculpture
The ceramic shell is a crucial stage in the casting process. The original sculpture has been moulded into severe pieces and from the mould wax copies of each section are recreated. This wax is removed from the mould and each wax is then dipped and coated in ceramic shell - which in essence is a form of plaster which can withstand high temperatures.

After this point the wax is melted or 'burnt out' leaving a 8mm cavity in the ceramic shell into which the molten bronze is poured.

The model is the second stage of the development process - following the development of working drawings and design the model for enlargement is created - in this case 1/6 scale for enlarging to 8 ft.

The model is an artwork in it own right and in this case is an edition work in bronze of 8 copies