Cast your own pattern or use one of BARN's in this introduction to metal casting.
About the Class
Learn and advance your metal-art skills by casting bronze or aluminum into a mold you've already created, you make in our Patternmaking for Casting in the Foundry class or one of our stock patterns.
Molten metal is poured into the mold you’ve formed in green sand (an environmentally safe mixture of fine sand, clay, and water). After your casting cools, you’ll free it from the mold and experience the thrill as your artistic creation emerges.
Metal casting is the second of three basic steps of the foundry arts. What begins with a creative idea for a casting of art, utility, or both, evolves this way:
- Make the pattern - carved, printed, or fabricated.
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Create the casting (this class) by forming the mold, melting and pouring the metal into the mold, and break the casting out of the mold.
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Finish the casting– remove the sprues, gates and runners; grind and finish the casting (and complete any additional machining required); and apply the desired finish or patina.
No need to be concerned about attending this class before you’ve made a pattern. When casting inspires your creative energies, take Patternmaking for Casting in the Foundry. Then take the Metal Casting class again - as often as you like. Our instructors help each student advance, no matter their skill level.
After casting your piece, register to clean up, polish, and finish it in our Finishing a Metal Casting class.
Details
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This is an off-site class - 9392 Wardwell Ave. N.E., Bainbridge Island
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Wear natural fiber clothing, long pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes (natural fiber or leather). No stretch fabrics, no hoodie ties, or dangling jewelry like bracelets that can get caught in machinery are allowed. Tie back long hair.
Instructors
Jeff Oens is a widely renowned sculptor with bronze artwork exhibited in prominent collections and public displays across the United States and Canada, Jeff is best known for his outstanding wildlife sculptures, but his portfolio includes human figures, mythical creatures, and other diverse subjects, ranging in size from miniature to monumental. Many of Jeff’s sculptures can be seen around the industrial park on Three Tree Lane.
Frank Wurden earned his BS in electrical engineering at the University of Washington, and a BFA degree with an emphasis in life drawing, sculpting, and foundry art working with green sand, CO2 sand casting, investment casting, and ceramic shell casting. Sculpture materials were clay, foam, wood, or wax for the patterns, and casting in aluminum, bronze, and stainless steel. Frank says it’s been many years since he's actually done casting, so it’s great fun to get back into it.
Mario Oblak honed his passion for casting metal with a BFA (University of Washington) and an MFA (Rhode Island School of Design) in sculpture. Creating, designing, and building in different materials and mediums is a joy, but working in liquid metal is “it” for him. Mario feels “casting is a magical process that requires patience, skill, labor, and teamwork, with the results both satisfying and permanent.” By sharing his knowledge and experience, Mario wants to help others explore, learn, and develop skills so they can see their ideas come to life.
