STEP-BY-STEP METHOD FOR BUILDING A CEMENT SCULPTURE

The Idea...

Create a sketch and/or a maquette:

Gather together:

For Base: 2"x4"lumber, piece of plywood, screws, drill and 3/8" bit, dust-mask, sand, cement, trowel, mixing bucket, water bucket.

Armature: 3/8" rebar, wire mesh, tape-measure, yellow wax marker, tie-wire, metal hack-saw, pliers, wire clippers, tin-snips, gloves, , styrofoam and plastic bags.

Build base:

Once size is determined, make a base out of the 2"x4"s and plywood.

This will hold the rebar firmly while working on the sculpture and will facilitate being able to move the sculpture into place in courtyard. Note the drilled holes in bottom to accept the rebar. once all are in place, cement fills the box.

Building the Armature:

Measure and cut rebar to build up form.

Use tie-wire to join the intersections.

Connect sections with cross bars

Keep developing the form

At this stage, all the rebar at the base is in place. I fill the box with cement.

While the cement is curing, I work on the head of the sculpture.

Small forms can be shaped first in styrofoam:

Shape of Head.

Wire mesh to shape features.

Wrap mesh around form.

Head in place.

Allow for fexibility in design in order to work with the materials.

Rebar can only bend so far. Armature must be supported and balanced.

In the photo below, I changed the concept from the figure holding a bird, to it holding a nest and egg.

The Next Stages:

Wrap the rebar form with wire mesh.

Fill in voids with either styrofoam or packing beads in plastic bags.

Scratch-coat of cement.

Final coat of cement:

Surface texturing, imbedding of objects, or coloration can be done at this time.

Let cement slowly cure.

Can stain dried surface with an oil stain.

Seal entire sculpture from water penetration.