Finishing Your Sculpture with Patina

Once your sculpture has been bisque fired, it will be a dull white with no shine. Some students prefer the white look and apply a white patina using white paint and white metal wax. Most others go for a darker patina. Below are the steps I use to achieve those darker finishes.

 

Step One: Flat Black Base (Skip for White Patina)

Spray the entire sculpture with flat black spray paint, making sure to get into all the crevices—under the chin and nose, inside the ears and eyes. Allow it to fully dry before moving to the next step.

 

Step Two: Stipple on Undercoat Paint

Use a light color latex paint (grey or brown) for your undercoat. I use Sculpt Nouveau metal paints (Type B) and paint samples from Home Depot (about $5.00). This layer gives depth under the metal wax.

• Apply by stipple brushing (dabbing with a chip brush).

• Let it dry completely, especially in the eyes and ears. Use a Q-tip to check for dryness.

• Inspect for loose brush hairs left behind (common with chip brushes).

 

Note: The metal wax will darken your undercoat color. Choose accordingly.

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Sculpt Nouveau metal coating paint (Type B) comes in various colors (bronze, brass, copper, gold, iron, pewter and silver.

See: https://sculptnouveau.com/collections/finishes/products/metal-coatings

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Step Three: Apply Metal Wax

Use Sculpt Nouveau metal wax:

See: https://sculptnouveau.com/collections/sealers/products/metal-wax

 

Choose from various colors—black, brown, verde, red, etc. Apply in a cool environment, as it cures quickly in heat. The wax has a strong smell that dissipates within a day or two. I let my finished sculptures sit in the garage for at least 24 hours before displaying.

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• A single 8 oz jar of metal wax will cover 4–5 sculptures.

• I’ve had great results with black, brown and red metal wax over the metal coatings.

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The Bronze Look

Personally, I no longer use bronze paint, as I had to keep explaining it was “faux bronze.” However, some students love bronze metal coatings.

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Finishing Options:

• More Undercoat Visible:

Quickly wipe or buff with a lint-free cloth (microfiber or an old cotton T-shirt) immediately after application to leave wax in the crevices.

• Darker Finish:

Let the wax sit for 30–45 minutes, then buff with a lint-free cloth.

 

The longer the wax stays on before buffing, the darker the piece becomes, and the less visible the undercoat will be.

 

Brushes

I use 1/2" and 1” disposable chip brushes for both paint and wax application. You can find them at Home Depot

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Tips from Sculpt Nouveau

• Apply wax with a brush using a stippling motion to avoid streaks.

• Smooth out any bumps or ridges while applying.

• Avoid letting clear wax pool in recessed areas—it can dry opaque.

• Colored wax in recessed areas creates great depth and contrast.

• Wax dries in 1–2 hours, longer for colored waxes.

• Always burnish (buff) with a lint-free cloth once the wax is dry.

• Don’t wait too long to burnish or the wax will harden too much.

 

Questions? Sculpt Nouveau is very helpful and will answer the phone.