This creative project identifies major conceptual and practical considerations inherent in the production of bronze figurative sculpture. What is considered and how, those considerations are weighted will vary among individuals. Many of these considerations affected my selection of subjects for the studio portion of the project. The paper touches upon considerations which both inhibit and advance a career in art, and have affected both aesthetic and procedural choices.A brief account of foundry procedures is presented. The studio portion of the creative project consists of four sculpted female dancers. The paper addresses a historical context with which each piece may be associated. Two figures exhibit the strong influence of Greek sculpture of the Classical period. The third figure is Impressionist in style. The forth figure has a Cubist influence. / Department of Art

The method I use in creating abstract sculpture presented the question that became the subject of my Master's thesis. Only occasionally will I create from a pre-conceived concept. The sculptures evolve through a process of addition and subtraction of material to something that simply pleases me. This method, really no method at all, seemed contradictory to my original intentions. My artistic goals were purposeful; I wanted to create sculpture that would provoke a reaction first, not a judgment of features. I wanted the viewers emotional and psychological involvement to be the basis for content and meaning in the work. In spite of the indirect approach, I felt there was some success in achieving my goal. Discovering how this occurred was important because I was at a loss to understand the content of my own work. Did the sculpture I was making hold any deeper meaning for me? My thesis proposal advanced the question of how sculptural form expresses content. A more accurate question is, what does it mean? I had faith that I was indeed making art that was more than a pleasant arrangement of forms. Confident that there was also meaning, I proceeded to explore and analyze the relationship of creative process to sculptural form and content. While writing a draft of my thesis, I realized the question was beyond a definitive answer. This was a personal investigation of a fundamental question. My expectation was that insight and analysis would provide the answer I needed.