| Claudia Jane Klein works with a variety of
materials. The majority of her metal sculptures are created using
differing shapes and planes in a variety of spatial combinations. The
metal pieces are often rolled, bent or twisted and may include rings,
plates and box sections. The differing planes and negative spaces define
the piece. |
| Shapes and spaces are cut with a plasma torch. The
sandblasted steel or aluminum is either mig or tig welded (heli-arc) and
then further shaped by grinding and sanding. The welded joints and seams
are then ground and filled with polyester resin producing a seamless
finish. |
| After the pieces are fabricated, they are primed with
marine epoxy or epoxy powder coating. The sculptures are then finished
with marine urethane or automotive paint with multiple top clear coats, or
they have a metal acrylic paint that has been sprayed with acid and clear
coated with lacquer. All the pieces are waxed with uv additives to protect
the finished surfaces. |
| The Fiberglass sculptures are constructed of different
thickness of fiberglass cloth with epoxy resin over carved and sculpted
structural foam. The foam which is used to build hi tech racing yachts and
other water craft is cut with a gig saw from flat sheets and laminated
together with polyester resin. It is then further sanded with power tools.
The undulating shapes are heat treated with a heat gun and formed over
metal tubing much like metal is shaped but with much less heat. The shapes
are added together and then further filled with polyester and sanded. The
fountain pieces that have running water are routed out for copper tubing
When the final shape is achieved the fiberglass cloth is laid up and wet
out with epoxy resin ,when partially set there is a flood coat that is
applied leaving a surface that can be further sanded and shaped. The
finish is either an acrylic metal coating treated with acid then lacquered
and waxed or a clear epoxy that is tinted with different dyes to achieve
bright colors. The epoxy is then lacquered for further UV protection .The
sculptures have a long life in the elements and are great with water. |
