But then, he says, working with Chuck Dodson means there's always another project in the works. One idea that's still down the road is a series of sculptures around the Ruidoso community. He said the foundry might finance the first sculpture, then seek public or private funding for the rest. The artist makes a maquette, or clay model, of a piece of art. Foundry workers make a rubber mold of the maquette.
Hot wax is poured into the rubber mold, making a wax model of the maquette.
The wax model is worked to remove imperfections and seam lines. The wax is sprued and gated. That means wax rods, cup and vents are added where bronze will be poured into the pattern later. A ceramic mold is built around the wax model. The ceramic mold is fired in a burnout oven to melt the wax model inside.