Creating the image in wax

In an earlier post, the brown wax used in bronze sculpture is shown in slabs and pieces. That wax was used for this sculpture. The wax is shaped into the image a person wants to become the bronze sculpture. In this sculpture, I created the image of the little girl then placed it on the stone for final shaping.
The shape of the girl was formed by pushing together two large pieces of wax which eventually became the torso and legs. The head was a ball pushed onto the torso then shaped. The hair and hands were added. The blanket was added last and molded to fit the stone. Decorative symbols, etc. are added last. The red wax used for the necklace [we call it spaghetti wax] is usually used in the gating process but because it is the perfect size I needed for the necklace, I used it for that purpose. The red wax is a sturdier wax which is necessary for gating. Gating is the next step in the process.

I will continue to refine this image until I am satisfied with it.
The image is inspired by a photo of a little girl sitting on a rock in an ad in New Mexico magazine seeking mentoring volunteers for American Indian children.