"Full Circle" Completed

"Full Circle" height 22 inch, width 12 inch by 12 inch deep, with Sherrie, Yvonne and myself completed. 

Please enjoy the process below of some of the stages "Full Circle" went through to be complete.   Some of the steps were not photographed, but will hopefully get some photos of the wax process for the next piece.   Heritage Bronze is a great place to work with.   Many thanks to Bob, Sherrie, Yvonne, Chris and Danny for their individual expertise along the way to accomplish and make my dreams come true.   Each piece and each step is handled with the greatest attention to detail to make every bronze sculpture exceptional in quality.  

Terry delivering "Full Circle" to the foundry.

A mold is made from the original piece by Sherrie.

This is the back part of the mold.

The front part of the mold.

 After the mold is made from the plasticine figure,  a wax form is poured. I then went back to the foundry to add more to the sculpture and design a base.

Sherrie then gets the piece ready for the slurry mold. (photos of this process next time)  The wax and mold is then heated to 1800 degrees and placed in an incinerator and the wax pours out of the mold.   The bronze is then heated to a liquid quality and is  poured back into the slurry mold and then that mold is broken away with a hammer and the long process of putting the piece together, welding, sanding, grinding and more sanding etc. is done.


This is Chris welding the pieces together.

This is Bob finishing the weld and bringing the piece to perfection.

Poor "Full Circle" talk about being poked and prodded.  LOL.....

After a final inspection to make sure the piece is smoothed and ready for the patina it is put in a sand blasting machine to rid the surface of any oils or anything that might hinder the patina process.

This is Bob moving it around in the sand blasting unit.

Another look over to make sure all is well.

Not sure where we are in the process here, but wanted to show poor "Full Circle" in another position.  Mind you, this piece is large and not easy to move around.  

Attached to a metal spindle getting ready for the patina.

Full view of the spindle.  

The piece is heated with a blow torch and the process begins of brushing on the different chemicals to make just the right color.   This is where I come back into the picture.  A little more here and a little more there. 

Getting ready to scrub back the highlights and we decided a darker patina was needed so back to the stand and starting over.

Once the color is right, I then scrubbed in the highlights where I wanted them.

Bob was so nice to bring the piece inside for me to work on the piece.   It was so hot in the warehouse. 

The piece is then heated back up again and a hot wax is applied.

Ah, the cooling process.   Best place to be in the warehouse on a very hot day.

The attachments are secured for the marble base.

Close up of detail.

Black Patina with blue and green undertones.

Brown Patina with red, gold and black undertones.

                                         And here we are.   Bob Escota and me with my finished bronze sculptures "Full Circle".    I have to give a special thanks to Bob.    He worked with a very picky artist and not once did he get mad.   He just kept saying, "I will do whatever you want".   After two different patinas on each piece, we finally came up with exactly what I had visioned.  I kept saying I have in my mind what I want, he would say, we will work until we get it.     Both have beautiful subtle highlights to form the face and the flowing movement of the piece.   I am so excited.  

"Full Circle" is a limited edition of 15.   Contact me at shacone@aol.com for details on how you can own one of these beautiful Lost Wax Bronze Sculptures.  

Until next time, PLEASE ENJOY THE ART!   Terry d. Chacon

Crystal Cove Cottages 2012

"Sunset from Crystal Cove Cottages" 9 x 12 oil on canvas w/ palette knife.

I was so excited to be able to paint this view.  Every time my friend Patricia Rose Ford and I paint at Crystal Cove we want to paint the cottages.   Not knowing where and how to get to that point we always ended up painting on the beach.   This time we had time to spare as we knew ahead of time we wanted to paint a sunset.   So we hiked up to the top of the hillside overlooking the rooftops of the cottages nestled into the mountain side and of course the beautiful ocean.    The office to rent the cottages was in this area and I told Pat, I they can say is NO!   We found this perfect spot in between two cottages at the top of the mountain and asked permission to paint there.  The man was so nice.  He was so happy that we had asked permission and said we could even drive up the hill to drop off our gear. 

"Ocean Play"   6 x 6 oil on canvas w/palette knife. 

I painted this little gem while waiting for the sunset to get just right for the first painting.   It was a very hot day at the beach and it was crowded.  I love the way the light hit the people, back lighting them with the sparkle of the sun on the water.   They were really enjoying the day.  

My friend Pat, took this photo of me painting up on the hillside over looking Crystal Cove Cottages.  What a fun afternoon at the beach.    Boy I sure love my job.

Interest in these paintings and others can be directed to me at ShaCone@aol.com.  

On another note I finished another painting for my Dog Show Series.  Every year I have the privilege of attending the WKC in New York City.   A week of dog show greats, fun with friends and seeing some of the top dogs compete.    This is the winner of Best In Show at Westminster Kennel Club 2012, Madison Square Gardens.  Malachy the Pekingnese wins!  Owned by Iris Love and David Fitzpatrick. 

For your enjoyment a video about the show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&NR=1&v=kcEcZjaLrfk

"Best In Show" 11 x 14 oil on canvas by Terry d. Chacon

Be sure to check out Fine Art America, where you can order prints on canvas or paper and fabulous note cards from images of my paintings.  Some of the Dog Show Series paintings are available, along with plein air, holiday and animal portraits.   If you have a favorite painting that is not available, please let me know.  I will see if I can put it up on the site.  

Check out:   http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/terry-chacon.html

A calender of my dog show series will be available in October.   Along with a new book.   Stay tuned.

Until next time, Please ENJOY THE ART!   Terry d. Chacon

Painting Catalina Island 2012

"Afternoon Reflections"   9 x 12 oil on canvas w/palette knife

Arriving into Avalon on Catalina Express from Long Beach, Ca.  This is our seventh year of painting Catalina Island.   Joan Coffey and myself have gone every year, Patricia Rose Ford has joined us many times as well as other plein air artists throughout the years.  

First stop Mi Casita Mexican Restaurant, love those margarita's.   After checking into our hotel "The Glenmore" we headed out to paint the "Afternoon Reflections" of the beautiful and very famous Catalina Casino.   Check out the hotel we have stayed at for the past 7 years.   The oldest hotel on the island.   If you want to get great exercise, this is the place to stay.   We were on the 3rd floor and there is no elevator.   http://www.glenmoreplaza.com/

Early morning painting.   We love painting the early morning.   No sun this morning, but the clouds were beautiful and the air fresh and clean.  

"Early morning Sail"  6 x 6 oil on canvas board w/palette knife.

The three of us painting early morning.  

"Zane Grey" 9 x 12 oil on canvas board w/palette knife.

Standing on the side of the mountain road to get a glimpse of the "Zane Grey Hotel".   What especially brought my attention to this sight was the bougainvillea.   Most of the vehicles on this road are the famous golf carts that most everyone uses to get around.   This road is one way.   I felt safe and comfortable. 

http://www.zanegreypueblohotel.com/

The Zane Grey Hotel was once the home of the famous author Zane Grey.   Beautiful views of the ocean and a quaint hotel.  

My only problem was the cactus lined road.  I set my trolley up in front of the cactus and when I packed to leave boy did I get pricked.  Thanks to Joan and her handy tweezers who was able to get most of them out.  The rest festered up in the next few days and I was able to remove them.   OUCH!  And everyone was worried about the cars on the road.  

When we finished painting the Zane Grey we hiked back down to Avalon.   A much needed margarita or two was in the plan.  Chips and salsa at the local Mexican restaurant.  

After an afternoon rest we decided to paint the street that leads to the Green Pier.   It was fun painting the different golf carts that lined the street, the people enjoying the restaurants and even a doggie or two.  

After a good nights rest and a wonderful breakfast at our favorite Peach Pancake place we decided to paint at the beach.   As you can see by the photos as time went on the beach became busier and busier.

"Fun times  at the Green Pier"  9 x 12 oil on canvas board.  

When I started this is what the beach looked like.  Actually when you go out at 6 am the beach is covered in towels, blankets etc.  People want to secure their spot for the day.  

Pretty soon the umbrella's start going up, the lawn chairs are in place.

And then it is full.....So glad I can paint fast.  

After a nice ice cream at one of the favorite Ice Cream Parlor's we headed out to Descanso Beach.   We wanted to partake in the 50% off Margarita's and food for Happy Hour.  

My painting above almost complete.

"Happy Hour" Descanso Beach.   Great painting time with friends and Margarita's.  How can you go wrong.

(photo by Joan Coffey)

Getting ready to call it a day.   The moon is coming up and we have quite a hike back to Avalon.

We definitely need to head back!  Sand in your toes or is it sand in your shoes! 

We returned just in time to set up for a beautiful evening of painting.  I had started this painting and didn't like it a couple nights before.   So I finished it that night.  The reflections under a full moon are just amazing.

"Night Life" 6 x 8 oil on canvas w/ palette knife.

Early morning and yes we had sun peaking through the clouds.  It was amazing the reflection on the early morning water in the harbor.

"One Boat"  6 x 12 oil on canvas w/palette knife.

"Buena Vista View"  9 x 12 oil on canvas board w/palette knife

For our last painting session we took a cab up to Mt. Ada.   Looking out over Buena Vista View is so beautiful.  I loves the huge agave, they were taller than me.   Had to put them in the painting. 

Toasting our last dinner on the island.   Lemon Drop Martini's......

A beautiful time with wonderful artist friends.  Cannot wait until our 8th year to visit and paint Catalina.

All paintings are available either through me or one of my galleries.  contact me for details on your favorite.   shacone@aol.com

Prints will be made available on Fine Art America.   http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/terry-chacon.html

Until next time, PLEASE ENJOY THE ART!   Terry d. Chacon