One of the best things about doing a show where the public is coming to see your work, is that you really get a chance to find out what they think and also to find out about some misconceptions they may have. Which brings me to talking about the feedback we got about our sculptures. I thought it might be fun to give this in an FAQ format just to give you an idea of the questions we did get and also get some of our answers.
Q. What are the sculptures made of? Is it resin, or clay? Is it cement?
A. The sculptures are made of a very fine aggregate like limestone or marble which is almost a dust that is mixed with Portland Cement. This is called Cast Stone.
Q. Some of the sculptures are very smooth. How do you get that?
A. Because of the fineness of the aggregate, we can give each piece a very fine finish, all pieces are hand finished. Most sculpture that you find in garden centers is made from a rough mixture of gravel and cement, which produces a finish that shows the gravel and also has what are referred to as “bug holes” where air has been trapped on the surface of the mold. Our aggregate is almost a dust, which gives us a fine surface and our technique for pouring eliminates 98% of the bug holes.
Q. Do you buy the molds?
A. I have to admit I was taken aback by this question. In shock almost. As artists, creating the original sculpture is the most interesting part. So the answer is NO no no! Each piece is an original concept, sculpted by us in clay, and then from there we create a mold in plaster and then in rubber which can be used over and over. Our pieces are not a copy of anyone’s work. We only produce our own work and each piece has a stamp that indicates the artists signature and the Summer House logo. We hold the copyrights to all of our work.
Q. Why a rubber mold?
A. A rubber mold allows us to be a little more creative with the piece. We can have what are referred to as “undercuts”. This is when the curve of the piece curves under and with a flexible rubber mold we can easily pull the mold off the cement form after it is set, without breaking off any clever bits.
Q. Are they OK outside in the winter? We get a lot of snow and freezing.
A. Because they are made of cement, not resin or clay, they will stand up to the weather. Our son in Calgary has been testing these pieces in the freeze and thaw of a Calgary winter with temperatures down to -35 C which can suddenly change to 12 degree C in a day. The sculpture was fine. No crumbling or breaking.
In fact, we did a lot of research on this and actually use an additive meant for the construction of cement bridges, to make sure the cement stays strong, doesn’t crumble and also does not get a “bloom” which is when the salts leach out of the cement, weakening it.
Q. Do you have to take them inside in winter?
A. No, they are meant to stay outside. In fact, they will get even better looking as they weather in, developing a patina from the moss and rain.
We do have had a lot of people who keep them inside, since they do look great as an interior artwork. This weekend one of our Oak Greenmen is was purchased for a bathroom wall. I’m trying to imagine this bathroom! Must be fantastic.
Q. Do they cost a lot to ship?
A. No. We ship by Fedex Ground which ends up being almost the same as regular post, cost wise and gets it to its destination in 3 -7 days. We’ve found it’s usually closer to 3 days. We’ve found Fed Ex to be very reliable and helpful. If you live in Victoria, BC, we’ll deliver free.
Q. Are they heavy?
A. Not really. The smaller pieces weigh less than a pound. The larger ones usually only around 8 - 10 pounds. Even 
with packing, they are very cost effective.
Q. Can I send them as a gift?
A. Yes. Please send them as a gift. If you order online you can fill in your own address for billing and the address of the person you are sending it to, separately. We even add a little information about the artists and more info about the cement, the sculpture and how to hang it. We want the recipient to know that you chose something special and original, that will last forever.
Q. I had a sculpture where the paint came off. Will this happen with yours?
A. No, our colors come from a colorant meant for cement that is added to the cement during casting. Some of our sculptures have color added by applying an acid stain, which is then neutralized. The color is part of the sculpture permanently. We have done some with a wash of acrylic paint, but this is color that soaks into the cement and will not come off.
Q. Do the sculptures have to be sealed?
A. We don’t seal them. You can if you want, but left unsealed they will weather naturally and develop the patina of an antique over time.
Q. We would like a water feature. Can you do that?
A. Yes, some of the sculptures like the Merman can be specially cast to accommodate a pipe so that water can run out of the mouth. We can work with you or your designer and can do custom casting for you at a very reasonable cost.
So there are some of the questions we got and our answers. I would encourage anyone attending one of these shows of artists to go ahead and ask questions. Artists are always happy to have a chance to explain and talk about their work and you will come away probably appreciating what they do even more. That said, if you have any questions, please please just ask.
Tags: bug holes, cast stone, Cast Stone FAQ, cement, clay, fine aggregate, freeze thaw, gift, limestone, molds, original concept, patina, rubber mold, sculptures, Victoria, water feature
Interesting! And great gift idea. Thanks for filling in the gaps, or would that be bug holes? Nice photos too…