A Legacy Cast in Bronze

Added: 2026-05-13

[00:00:00]I have a really cool thing >> [music] >> that I want to tell you guys about and that is our artist in residence program that we're doing. And this is this is a Jason idea and we're trying it on to celebrate the Gunwerks [music] 20-year anniversary. And so the concept or the idea behind this is we're doing a bronze, >> [music] >> a limited piece, 20-piece bronze that captures the struggle of [music] building a business like Gunwerks. And to kind of commemorate that, I mean a sheep hunt's always kind of like that iconic, [music] you know, hunt, that struggle to achieve. I mean, maybe the struggle to even get the tag. And when we started Gunwerks, I was fortunate [music] enough to draw a New Mexico sheep permit and and was able to kind of kick off that that big hunt career at the same time [music] we were launching Gunwerks as a company.

[00:00:56]And so so we've got a sheep in this bronze and then we're going to actually bring in a model >> [music] >> of of the sheep that I killed, my bighorn. And and bring that and make it a part of that story. [music] And you know, there's a lot of things that came from that hunt. You know, the the realization of how significant [music] that one shot is. Like everything on the line. And so it's it's it's interesting, it's great. And we've got a great artist that's a local artist here, uh Tanner uh Lauren and uh grew up in in the area and has developed [music] a really cool um you know, brand and business and done some really nice pieces. This is really fun. Uh I'm excited to do more of this type of work. [music] We're going to spend a few weeks here just doing the uh just doing the the modeling. And then uh um for anybody that doesn't [music] understand the process with bronzes, maybe you could share with me just a little about like what's the process look like? How long does it take? When are we going to see these 20 [music] pieces, I guess is what I'm really getting to.

[00:02:00]>> Uh so, it's actually quite a a labor labor inclusive It's a lot of work to put these together. Uh each piece will go through a foundry and they'll get touched by between eight and 10 people [music] as it goes through the whole process.

[00:02:14]So, what I'll do is I'll create the whole thing out of clay and then they'll make a mold of it. And so, they'll take the they'll peel the mold apart, take the clay out, put it back together, and then they'll pour wax [music] into that mold. So, a lost wax process. Lost wax casting, yep. And so, uh once it goes through the whole process, they'll pour all the pieces. And actually, I do a lot of my own finishing.

[00:02:35]>> [music] >> And so, I'll pick the bronzes up in pieces from the foundry. So, they'll cut them all up to make it hollow and to pour them. And then I'll go through and I'll weld all 20 pieces back together and then I'll do what they call as a patina. And that's the coloration of the whole piece.

[00:02:51]And so, it's just [music] uh heat and acids and create different chemicals >> Yeah.

[00:02:55]>> different heats, create different >> I've always preferred that's that bronze look versus [music] the newer, you know, colorations. Which which is a really cool art to [music] get those kind of colors the way they do it cuz it's not paint.

[00:03:07]But uh but I'm still I'm [music] still a sucker for that And I and and that is what I was planning on doing is just a traditional patina, which [music] is what it's just a regular bronze color with uh the darker recessed. [music] So, it's pot ash is what it is. So, they all I'll spray the whole thing black and then rub the highlights out [music] and so that that bronze will come through.

[00:03:27]One question I've always had about it, the the the clay itself, you it it doesn't harden before you give it to them. It does not. So, it is a oil-based clay and actually some of the clay that I'm using is probably close to 30 years old. I got [music] it from the foundry from different artists. They just they bring in a sculpture, they leave it, and I worked at the foundry for 21 years until well, until it burned down a couple years ago here in town.

[00:03:52]Well, that's pretty cool. So, um they have to be pretty careful [music] about the way that gets handled.

[00:03:57]>> It is very, very sensitive and I have a great mold maker I've been working with for 12 years now and so she does a great, great job. Once it's [music] out of mold, the clay pretty much is destroyed and I'll just crush it up and >> [music] >> make more sculptures in the future with it and so it's recyclable.

[00:04:13]Just keep going and keep [music] going.

[00:04:15]>> tell me how you got into uh this you know, sculpture [music] work. Like it sounds like you started working at a foundry.

[00:04:22]>> I started right out of high school at the foundry [music] and I was doing it for so long for other artists and helping them create their careers. I actually [music] got wounded at the foundry. I had a big sculpture fall on me and crush me and I was paralyzed for about 6 months.

[00:04:38]>> Oh, wow. And so I was laid up in bed and one of the guys I worked with brought me some clay. He's like, this will give you something to do while you're just laying here.

[00:04:47]>> [music] >> And so I started sculpting and actually the first sculpture I made was a cowboy grave cuz that's kind of the you know, a little rock pile with a cross and a rifle leaning against it.

[00:04:57]That's kind of the mindset [music] of where I was at just laid in bed and wasn't sure I was ever going to walk again and so I made a bucket list while I was paralyzed and one of the things on it was to create a bronze sculpture.

[00:05:08]>> [music] >> If I ever walked again, it was one of the top things on my list and so after I had surgery, miraculous recovery, was able to walk, s- dove right headfirst into sculpting.

[00:05:18][music] So, when did you complete that first sculpture?

[00:05:21]Uh 2006, I think is [music] when I first did it.

[00:05:25]>> Nice. And so and it took me a couple years after that. Well, then the next question [music] is how long did it take before you were paying your bills with the art? That's and that's it is a it is bronze is one of the hardest art forms to get into because there's so much overhead. And if you don't [music] start working at a foundry, it is hard to do cuz it's expensive, it's time-consuming, and it is uh it's a lot of work.

[00:05:49]>> [music] >> And so because I worked in the foundry I was able to do it all myself nights and weekends you know the owner of the foundry was great guy let me go in and work whenever I wanted. [music] And so I would do all my own castings and so I learned the whole process.

[00:06:03]And [music] so it it makes a big difference just starting from scratch and trying to break into sculpture. It is a lot harder than doing paintings [music] whereas painting you buy canvas you buy paint. Yeah.

[00:06:15]And so I was very blessed to be able to work at the foundry.

[00:06:19]>> Yeah 2D 2D image you know I'm not I'm not saying it's easy but to me that [music] extra dimension makes it that much harder and it's so much harder to do a race and start over and to get the shapes and [music] I'm I'm really I personally my taste leans towards authentic true to life shape. So when I when I see a [music] sculpture that doesn't have the right proportions proportions and that it's a little bit off I don't like it. Yeah. Like I I really really like the works [music] that capture the true shapes and movements and shapes yeah. Yep. So that that's that's pretty important [music] to me and you know maybe that just comes from taxidermy work you know you like you have things taxidermy here's a good one here's a bad one but especially with wildlife it's like it turned into a thing [music] so. Yep. And I know your your sketch looks good the shapes look good >> [music] >> I really like what we've got for a plan on this it's going to I think it's going to turn out great.

[00:07:15]>> Yeah I'm I'm excited I'm excited to make it like I did the gun works emblem right here in the front I'm excited to make it for the brand and So you've got [music] you're you're going to have three or four weeks into that here yes few hours a day.

[00:07:29]>> and compress [music] it as much as I can I'll probably be doing four or five hours a day on it I've already got a great start [music] it's you know it's really rough but I'm just kind of getting shapes lined out but I'm going to try and get it as quickly as I can. My foundry in in Livingston, Montana that I use is like most foundries in the country, they're very busy. So, we're the goal obviously the goal is is a 20-year thing. So, there's a time limit. We want to have these this [music] year. Yes.

[00:07:58]So, we're thinking towards the end of the year. It is within the next 4 months [music] is our goal is to have all 20 done in bronze ready to deliver. Very cool.

[00:08:08]Well, I the project's great. [music] I really appreciate you being the guinea pig for this new thing that we've got going and you know, like all projects, you know, it takes a little time to kind of feel your way around, but man, I think we've got a great plan to [music] execute this one and it's got a great theme behind it. So, there's some real connection to the brand and for why we're doing it. So, I appreciate it. I appreciate you guys. It's exciting. You have a great lobby, great lighting, great place to [music] work and so a lot of people coming in now watching while I'm working, which is what I thrive at.

[00:08:38]I spend a lot of time alone in my studio and in the dark area just by myself for hours now. So, it was good to it was good to be out and be around [music] people for a little while. So, Well, we have a we have a really cool event that we're doing this next week. And so, I'm traveling down to Texas. We've got a lot of our customers that are also [music] aviation enthusiasts that are coming down. So, I'm going to be gone for a week. So, when I come back, I think we're going to have a lot of progress. I'm excited to see where it's at.

[00:09:07]>> I'm I'm excited just from what we've got done in this first day. [music] So, I think we'll we'll be farther ahead than I anticipated, which is good cuz we are on a crunch. And [music] so, it'll be it's good to have a jump start. It's good to start heading in the right direction and it's good to be working towards that goal. [music] >> Yeah, I'm very cool. Well, we've got a really great plan for how we're going to utilize these bronzes, [music] how we're going to allocate them, and how we're going to celebrate the struggle of building a company like Gun Works over the past 20 years.