One day, Mexican sculptor José Balderama arrived at the foundry to have us repair one of his bronzes. It was going to take the full day to complete the repair, so he asked us to provide him with some clay “to play with” while he waited.
Of course we complied. Later in the day I passed by the bench where he was sculpting and noticed he was creating a ¾ life size bust. Still later I was startled to realize it was a bust of me!
When he had finished, José made me an offer. If the foundry would produce two bronze castings of the bust at no charge, he would give one to us, and he would take the other to show as an example of his work.
Now, bronze busts are cast of the rich and famous – not obscure foundry workers. Did I really need a bronze vanity bust of myself?
Yup!
Ron Young was the undisputed patina guru of our generation. At one point he came up with a sample kit of chemicals and instructions that he offered for sale. Of course we ordered one straight away.
When it arrived I took it immediately to our lead patina artist and encouraged her to experiment with it on some of the miscast bronzes we had laying around.
I remember at some time sitting around with family members, and speculating if a movie were ever made of our family, which actors or actresses would best portray each of us. The debate for portraying my brother Tom was between Paul Newman and Robert Redford. For my wife, Theora, it was Jane Fonda or Meryl Streep. When my turn came I suggested Steve McQueen or Charles Bronson or Brad Pitt., but I was nearly laughed out of the room. Their unanimous choice was character actor Wilford Brimley. Now I have always admired ‘ol Wilford, I just didn’t particularly identify with his venerable, “Quaker Oats Man,” appearance. No matter. Done deal.
At some point I wandered into the patina room to see how the patina staff had done with the new Ron Young chemicals. And there it was! My vanity bust. Well, I hadn’t gotten it right, but my family hadn’t either. No Steve McQueen. No Charles Bronson. No Brad Pitt. But no Wilford Brimley, either.
There, in living color, with blue-veined, bright red inebriated nose, there was the unmistakable image of W.C. Fields!
Leave a Reply