The style of the portraits created by Tomek Kolodziejski is classic. The portrait is very personal in order to capture the true character and gesture of the individual.

The three dimensional portraiture is possible to find the many subtle ways to represent the spirit of the individual and his/her character.

Portrait process - Private Commission:

Commissioning a portrait can be exciting expertise and usually a person has his/her portrait made only once in a lifetime. If you are thinking about having such a personal piece of art commissioned, there are some things to consider before hand. It is my exercise to produce a lasting work of art that customized to your satisfaction and to make a likeness of the individual that enhances their inner and outer beauty. In a way , you can consider a commission as an investment as the value of the piece increases as my career develops each commission is unique.

Upon final approval  I require 1/3 deposit to get started, then 1/3 payment on completion of the clay work to your satisfaction, then final payment would be due on the easting and completion of your finished sculpture.

I will not send a piece to be cast until I obtain approval from you to do so. During creation process, I send Digital photos for your review and approval.

Photographs:

If you are submitting photos the best result can be achieved if the following guidelines are kept in mind.

Take the photo against a solid background if possible, take a series photos in 1/8 incremental turns all around the head, one angled up at the subject to photos.

Pleasant, relaxed expression is better, then the mouth open and the teeth.

Ordering:

A portrait head or other subject may be ordered by e-mail confirmed by phone. Let us know what size and material and whether the person is living or deceased. We will e-mail back a response on price and estimated waiting time, as well as detailed instruction on how to photograph the subject. Depending on the quality of the photographs a good likeness can be achieved of the subject.

One the special your order I could come to you and make the photograph the subject myself and establish the details.

I am very experienced in working from photograph.

A process of the making of a portrait:

Tomek Kolodziejski originally sculptured in clay. In the same manner the jewelry is sculptured directly in wax before casting into gold. Seeking quality and precision, he personally works on each sculpture during laborious and exacting bronze casting process.

Lost wax process (Cire Perdue):

Clay to wax to bronze - the last wax process is a method for changing a sculpture made of soft clay into a harder material such a bronze. Changing the clay to bronze involves two molds per each sculpture. The first mold (made of plaster and rubber) yields a wax cast of the sculpture. The hand pouring of wax determines the likeliness and therefore the weight of final bronze. Inversing the wax cast in the liquid ceramic material forms the basic of second mold. When hardened the material can withstand the high temperature of the melted bronze. Next the mold is heated until the wax melts out or disappears. Because the wax disappears it becomes lost wax" as the name of the process called. The resulting empty space left by the lost wax in the second mold thus forms a form shaped just like the sculpture which is later filled melted bronze.

In this method we are using two molds: Master-mold (first mold) and second ceramic mold.

First mold  is called the master mold - because it is taken from the original clay. It is made of special rubber supported by a plaster shell. The rubber register all the details sculpted in the clay. When the soft clay sculpture is removed from master mold the resulting space is filled with wax.

Second ceramic mold  - When the removed wax is in order it is encased in the second ceramic mold made of the ceramic material special for the high temperature of the bronze. Then the ceramic mold (with wax cast inside) is placed in the oven to melt out of the wax - the wax becomes lost wax" - is melted and disappears.

Melted bronze is then poured into space left by the melted wax.

After casting the mold is hammered apart to show the bronze casting.

Then the bronze is perfected welding, filling, grinding and sanding.

At last the Finishing and Patina  is added which results deep, rich colors, when becomes a permanent part of sculpture.

Finally  the sculpture receiving the laundry wash and is waxed to protect the patina. In case of the Limited Edition the number of the piece is hammered.

The prices, terms of finishing and all details to be agreed by e-mail.