t his seaside studio in Makena, on the island of Maui, Will Herrera finds inspiration in the beauty of his surroundings. Here, he designs world renowned sculptures known for their flowing form and rich coloration.

Where it all begins

The art of fine sculpture making begins with design. Will Herrera created what would become the "final concept" by first experimenting with wire armatures, bending and joining them together until he achieved the perfect combination of open spaces amid bold lines. From there, plaster was built up over the armatures creating the form he calls "Possibilities Ad Infinitum."

The Primary Mold

Once the initial form was complete, a primary mold was created from eight different plaster sections that encased the sculpture. In this lengthy process the artist creates a three- dimensional puzzle of interlocking parts. Each section must hold surrounding sections in place, yet be removable without distorting the form being cast.

Casting

The next step in the creative process requires a great deal of care, watching and waiting. First, the original sculpture is removed from the primary mold. When all excess moisture has evaporated from the mold it is time for it to be reassembled, tightly strapped together, and filled with a liquified clay called casting slip. The slip or clay remains in the mold from one to two hours allowing a "casting" to form along the mold's interior walls.
Finally, the mold is carefully disassembled and the entire casting removed. From this master a series of plaster molds are then produced. The sculptures are cast once each day, and are meticulously cleaned and finished before being dried slowly.

Ready To Be Kiln Fired

At this point, the sculptures are ready to be bisque fired in a kiln. The temperature is gradually increased over a twelve hour period, until it reaches 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Upon cooling, the sculptures can be glazed. Once the oxides and glazes have been applied, the piece will be fired again to ensure the colors are fused permanently. A final firing is required to flux the gold signature and numbering, which Herrera applies to each work of art.

A Symphony Of Colors

How does Will Herrera achieve such rich coloration? The best description of this comes from the artist himself. "Through the use of a sophisticated airbrush, I applied eight different colors to achieve the richness and depth in surface quality, along with special glazes that were applied layer upon layer," he explains. "Additionally, for this piece I have placed glaze crystals in the upper inside portion of the sculpture -- after all, what better way to represent the infinite possibilities than a starry night?"

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