OCTOPUS bronze sculpture & table: July 2011

Truly fine art

"Cephalopod" bronze by Kirk McGuire Sculpture

Limited edition of 20/2011

Sculpture dimensions: 16" H x 23" W x 33" L $22,000.00

Table dimensions: 16 1/2" H x 36" round glass $24,000.00

This sculpture first takes a vision. Then it takes long hard hours of researching and study before I even begin sculpting the original. Once I have decided on my vision. I sculpting the octopus hollow from wax. After months and months of sculpting, designing, changing and tweaking the piece. I am finally satisfied enough to say it is done. I then have to make a rubber mold so I can reproduce this wax into a bronze. The mold is a very labor intensive process as well. I am lucky enough to have been the master mold maker for the Monterey Sculpture Center early on in my career. So I am very lucky, that I can make my own molds as well. After molding the octopus. I then pour a wax copy. Which must be hollow also. After re sculpting the wax, and fixing any minor detail flaws. I then create the skin texture on each and every casting. No two are the exact same texture. Yet all look amazingly alike. I then have the wax cast at the bronze foundry that I used to work for years ago. After a few weeks, I pick up my raw casting of the octopus. It is in pieces though, and must be welded back together. After it is welded together, I then have to grind the welds down, as well as sand and polish the whole sculpture. This takes a lot of hard work. Once the metal surface is perfect, it is then buffed and prepared for a hot patina. The patina is the use of a torch and different chemicals applied to the bronze surface of the octopus. One the patina has cooled. I then have to high polish all the suction cups, the eyes and wrinkles too. I then hand sign each piece. This piece is also available with a 38" round 1/2 thick glass table top. It makes a very unusual one of kind coffee table, and is very stable and strong. This is a condensed version of just what goes into making this amazing octopus sculpture/ table.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Octopus Table & Sculpture

Just finished! Is my bronze octopus sculpture and or table. This is a mind blowing sculpture or glass top coffee table, that I just completed this year. It is a limited editioned fine art bronze of only 20.

My youtube showing how I do some metal finishing on "CEPHALOPOD"

Youtube slideshow: Photos of the completed octopus coffee table with glass top.

Photographs below: Mold I made, so I could capture this sculpture and reproduce it.

People are going crazy over my newest sculpture and my very first bronze table. This is a very detailed and fluid sculpture. If you are interested in purchasing one please contact me through my website at: kirkmcguire.com