WHAT AMERICAN FINE ARTS CAN DO WITH SPECIALITY FINISHES IS WORLD CLASS

The final stage of any bronze casting art project is

PATINATING

THE BRONZE AFTER CASTING IS COLORED TO THE ARTIST’S PREFERENCE, USING CHEMICALS APPLIED TO HEATED OR COOLED METAL.

This coloring is called patinating, and is often green, black, white, or brownish to simulate the surfaces of ancient weathered bronze sculptures. (The original  bronzes gained their patinas from oxidization and other environmental effects.) Now in the new age of bronze, many artists prefer that brighter, modern, paint-like effects. Patinas are generally more translucent than a heavy paint finish, which allows the luster of the metal to show through. After the patina is applied, a coating of wax is usually applied to protect the surface. Some patinas change color over time because of oxidization, and the wax layer is designed to slow this degradation down.