Newsboy-Completion Of The Newsboy Sculpture
by using chemicals on the heated bronze.
May 2005
Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon has documented the entire process of creating a figurine of a newsboy and a life-size bronze sculpture. Watch the artist work through these posts. In this blog, she has also included information for students and teachers. In the previous post, we found out about putting a sculpture together in metal and what can happen.
If you are lost and want to go back to the chronological running list of posts, follow this link.
foundry on how to create
the color on the bronze
sculpture. She lets him
know what areas she wants light
and what areas she wants
dark. It is a bit of a process,
but, like the rest of this sculpture
process it is worth it in the end.
It has been almost eight months since the beginning of the newsboy sculpture. We are now in the final stage of the process- the patina. Putting different chemicals on the hot metal so that they will cause a reaction creates the patina. The part of patina is a true art. I wish I knew all of the different chemicals and what they can do. Often, I’ll just ask them, “A little more yellow here.” The patina that will be put on the newsboy sculpture is a traditional patina. Traditional patinas don’t have any stark colors, no blue, green or white. The patina on this sculpture may change over time. Chemicals in and pollution the air can make a patina turn different colors. Water from a nearby sprinkler can also have an affect on the sculpture. The sculpture is heated with a torch and chemicals are sprayed or brushed on the hot metal. It is interesting to see the steam rise off of the newsboy. Sometimes the sculpture will be rubbed back using steal wool or brushes. This brings the metal back while allowing the color to set into the crevices.
I typically like to have lights and darks; the hat will be dark, his shirt lighter, the suspenders darker, pants dark, socks lighter. The difference between the light and the dark helps to make the sculpture look more striking. The different textures I have added to the outfit seem to add color by the affect the patinas have on the textured areas. This adds color without really adding anything.
When I am asked for my opinion of the patina it is always hard for me to see what it will look like when it is waxed. To get a good idea they quickly spray the sculpture with water so that I can see what it will look like with the wax on top of it. I give my final approval and the sculpture is complete.
She wanted movement and passion.
She wanted to remember boys and
young men that were a part in history.
NOTE: Much to my dismay I have learned that the sculpture did not get through the legislature process at the state capitol. There were some stipulations that the capitol did not want sculptures by individual organizations. In other words, would be appropriate to have a war memorial, but because this sculpture is by the Texas Press Association, a group, that is not acceptable.
That is a shame, because in my personal opinion the newsboy represents more than the Texas Press Association. It represents how children had a profound affect on our history, and the importance of the news throughout history.
I have been told that if it cannot be placed at the capitol as of yet. Until the political details are resolved The Newsboy will be installed at the Texas Press Association building just south of the Capitol at 718 W. Fifth St. in Austin, Texas.
Sadly, this ends the newsboy journal. Two sections that were not covered in this documentary was Installation and Dedication. Those are featured in the process pages of John Turner of this website
The rest of the links on the main link chronological page are either news concerning the newsboy or about purchases of other pieces in the editions
DO YOU WANT A NEWSBOY SCULPTURE?