The detail that artists can achieve with modern materials and techniques is impressive. Resins unlock a vast array of creative possibilities while providing a more affordable alternative to traditional sculptural mediums.
Artist Mackenzie Thorpe has creatively reinterpreted a number of her paintings in resin. This piece, titled Love Seated, was one of an edition cast in resin and hand-painted. Works in resin are generally not mass-produced; each one is carefully crafted by a studio if not individually by the artist. The small details really stand out in this piece, from the texture of the chair to the toy car all but completely hidden from the viewer.
Damaged in a move, as the movers may have been unaware that the sculpture consisted of two separate pieces, the figure was separated from the chair and lost one of his legs. We were able to straighten the armature that originally held the figure in place and sculpt the missing pieces so that everything fit together perfectly once the sculpting was complete. The compatibility of the materials used in the restoration fused the restoration to the piece making them almost indistinguishable from the original casting. The repairs were carefully airbrushed and the figure was reattached to the chair. The finished restoration is nearly imperceptible.
Artists can achieve so much with resin that it really is like bringing a painting to life. We are thrilled when new materials are valued enough to be restored and we look forward to more exciting new projects like this one.
