Coastal Realism Sculptures

Gifted artist Kitty Cantrell's gorgeous "Intrepid Spirit" Sea Turtle Sculpture for Starlite Originals captures a beautiful pair of marine reptiles gliding ever, endlessly upward to inspire the spirit and reward the soul. The figurines are crafted in fine metals and mixed media, then finished using a special "hot patina" coloring process before being encased in dazzling custom-cut Lucite to produce a complete and lively image from the world beneath the waves. Express your own passion for the world beneath the waves, or give it as a gift sure to become a cherished family heirloom. "Intrepid Spirit" is limited to production of just 350 copies. Proudly made in the USA.
Weight: Approximately 34 lbs.
About Starlite Studios
Starlite Originals Sculptures celebrate an innovative and gorgeous balance of classic Old World artistic traditions and modern perspectives, methods, materials and styles. This artwork represents the individual visions of the gifted artists that design and sculpt for Starlite Originals Studios, as well as the company's commitment to showcasing new and provocative looks and styles. Starlite Orginals artists pay tribute to the beauty of nature's own design as their images, ideas and sculptures capture the breed, the species and the spirit with perfection.
Easily recognizable by their characteristic compositions, Starlite Originals Sculptures are crafted from a combination of metal, wood, and porcelain encased in clear Lucite, as well as classic bronze, pewter, resin, and a unique material called Porcelon.
Porcelon is an emerging artistic medium that blends porcelain and resin to produce strikingly detailed yet sturdy sculptural pieces. The advantages to working with Porcelon are many: this new material has the traditional appearance of fine porcelain, the ornate detail of plasticine, and the strength and durability of resin.
Originally formed in California in 1972 as a family-owned fine art print and publishing company, Starlite Originals has grown to embrace its role as a foundry for innovative emerging artists working in a range of materials. Starlite artists are renowned for their forward-thinking, modern techniques and unique combinations of different media to produce cohesive, nature-inspired art objects. One of the company's most popular distinguishing styles, many Starlite Originals pieces are sculpted in resin and then encased in crystal-clear, hand-carved Lucite.
The creative process at Starlite Originals begins with each artist carefully carving their vision in soft sculptural clay called plasticine. After the first carving, a team of master mold makers craft first-generation models using the traditional "lost-wax" casting method. Artists at SO often use a variety of metals in each sculpture, including hand-tooled finishing elements like Lucite, wood, brass, fine pewter, copper, and 24k gold vermeil. The vibrant colors in each sculpture are a result of a patina technique using heat, various chemicals, and acid to permanently oxidize the colors to the metal sculpture.

The silver plated dolphin trio sculpture by D'Argenta and artist Martin Mendoza is breathtaking. Playfully circling the waves, this heirloom quality piece will add to the charm of your home's decor. This beautiful sculpture weighs 10. 13 lbs. and is limited to signed editions of only 500 pieces.
About D'Argenta Silver Elegance
Ornate in design, exquisite in detail, and beautifully elegant, the Sterling Silver Plated products created by the artists of D'Argenta Silver Elegance are the perfect heirloom quality pieces for any home. The distinctive sterling silver designs stand out against the black neillo inlay and the intricate detail is breathtakingly attractive. D'Argenta Silver Sculptures and objects d'art offer unparalleled excellence in quality and exquisite attention to detail, because they are the hallmarks that have established D'Argenta as a leader in the export of precious metal-finished art for over a quarter of a century.
Each of the over 200 limited-edition sculptures, personally signed by the artist, is technically flawless yet competitively priced..the same master-craftsmanship received in pieces that have been gifted to royalty, heads of state and the Vatican. From the surface detail of the innumerable tumuli and broad swells that impart the hides of the elephant collection to the graceful lines that capture the motion of a stallion's gallop, you will marvel at the beauty of your truly unique acquisition as it graces a special place in your home.
Historically, sculptures composed of precious metals were crafted using the traditional hot casting process. 25 years ago, the artisans at renowned metal art company D'Argenta introduced an advanced new metalworking technique that changed the way precious metals are sculpted. D'Argenta's new method combined cold casting and electroforming to create intricate, finely detailed sculptures. The pieces are initially plated with a . 015 inch (400 micro) thick layer of copper, then plated with silver or (24K) gold at a thickness of . 001 inch (24 micro). Each sculpture's interior is composed of a polyester fiberglass core that strengthens sleek metal plating. After being formed, each piece is coated with a protective lacquer to prevents tarnishing and maintain luster. This final step ensures that all D'Argenta sculptures, though crafted with fine silver, do not require polish or any type of metal cleaner and can be simply dusted with a dry cloth as needed.
Exported around the world and now available in over 25 countries, D'Aragenta's products have won international acclaim because of their innovative construction and exquisite beauty. In 1981, D'Argenta was recognized with the Bulgarian Government Gold Medal award. In 1992, a D'Argenta sculpture was gifted to His Royal Highness Prince Naruhito of Japan on a visit to Mexico. A nod to the company's exclusive prestige, D'Argenta sculptures have been gifted to an increasingly long list of dignitaries, including Pope John Paul II, Prince Phillip of England, and his Majesty King Harald of Norway.
The gifted artists of D'Argenta include: Manuel Alvarado, Ricardo Del Rio, Enrique Jolly, Javier Arenas Perez, Claudio Rodr

This impressive Limited Edition Sea Turtle Bronze Sculpture by renowned sculptor Mark Hopkins captures the graceful movement of this beloved creature of the sea.

• Limited edition of 2500 pieces
• Hand patinaed
• Released in 1989
• Made in the USA

This striking bronze Bear Sculpture Grizzly Large from Mark Hopkins Sculpture is an exceptional work of art that would enhance your home, cabin, or office decor. With bold detail and unique style, this piece is crafted in bronze by artist Eli Hopkins using the lost wax technique. The perfect gift for a nature-lover with distinctive, artistic taste, the Bear Sculpture Grizzly Large is limited to an edition of only 100 pieces and is part of the popular Nature Series. Bring the beauty of the great outdoors into your home with this classic piece of wildlife-inspired art.
Internationally renowned American artist Mark Hopkins creates bronze sculptures that have thrilled collectors and casual art fans alike for more than two decades. Mark Hopkins' unique balance of organic inspiration and singular contemporary design has been called "bronze in motion" for its fluid look, which often appears to display natural beauty in defiance of gravity.
About Mark Hopkins
Mark Hopkins takes his inspiration for every facet of life on Earth, from the majesty of wildlife to mankind's interaction with nature, and produces limited-edition pieces that evoke a sense of awe and respect for the mysteries and loveliness of the world around us. Collectors of his work include Barbara Mandrell, Clint Eastwood, Bill Clinton, Colin Powell, George and Barbara Bush and a host of other luminaries and corporations including the National League Association of Baseball Club Owners, the Atlanta National Golf Club, Humana, Coca-Cola and others. Each Mark Hopkins sculpture is crafted with pride in the USA.
Captivated by form and design, Mark has personally created a signature style of vibrant vitality resulting from decades of study. Encouraged by parents and teachers from an early age, Mark's unique talent developed alongside his technical skills of sculpting and casting. As an artist, Mark is constantly challenging himself to render the rich beauty of life and the deep emotion of the human soul into flowing sculptural form, noting "I strive to express beyond the image, to catch spirit, to reveal deeper emotions, and to share joy. "
About the Production Process
From the artist's hand to the final polishing stages, many intricate steps go into the creation of a limited edition bronze sculpture. First the reproduction mold is made in which layers of silicone rubber and plaster are delicately applied to the original work. Then hot wax is poured into the reproduction mold to form an exact replica of the original sculpture.
When the wax replica is removed from the mold, it is then inspected and refined or "chased" by hand to remove any imperfections that may have occurred in the reproduction process. Next, ceramic cup and wax sprues, or gates, are added which later will help channel the molten bronze into the shell to create the sculpture.
The next step is creating the ceramic shell by alternately dipping the wax replica over a period of several days into a vat of liquid slurry, then a vat of silica crystals. The shell is then set to dry, and the process repeats until the shell has reached the appropriate thickness and strength.
The finished shell is placed in a high temperature oven that melts and removes the wax (the traditional "lost wax" method). The hardened or "fired" shell is secured, so the molten bronze can now be poured into the wax impression.

Mark Hopkins' playful Summer Fun Bronze Sculpture captures a pair of intrepid young vacationers as they explore the exotic world beneath the waves and encounter a gliding sea turtle. Cast in breathtaking detail in the finest bronze and finished in a warm rainbow of colors, Summer Fun is sure to thrill any friend or family member with a passion for snorkeling, or the sea in general. Only 250 of this clever and endearing image will be created, and each is crafted with pride in the USA.
Internationally renowned American artist Mark Hopkins creates bronze sculptures that have thrilled collectors and casual art fans alike for more than two decades. Mark Hopkins' unique balance of organic inspiration and singular contemporary design has been called "bronze in motion" for its fluid look, which often appears to display natural beauty in defiance of gravity.
About Mark Hopkins
Mark Hopkins takes his inspiration for every facet of life on Earth, from the majesty of wildlife to mankind's interaction with nature, and produces limited-edition pieces that evoke a sense of awe and respect for the mysteries and loveliness of the world around us. Collectors of his work include Barbara Mandrell, Clint Eastwood, Bill Clinton, Colin Powell, George and Barbara Bush and a host of other luminaries and corporations including the National League Association of Baseball Club Owners, the Atlanta National Golf Club, Humana, Coca-Cola and others. Each Mark Hopkins sculpture is crafted with pride in the USA.
Captivated by form and design, Mark has personally created a signature style of vibrant vitality resulting from decades of study. Encouraged by parents and teachers from an early age, Mark's unique talent developed alongside his technical skills of sculpting and casting. As an artist, Mark is constantly challenging himself to render the rich beauty of life and the deep emotion of the human soul into flowing sculptural form, noting "I strive to express beyond the image, to catch spirit, to reveal deeper emotions, and to share joy. "
About the Production Process
From the artist's hand to the final polishing stages, many intricate steps go into the creation of a limited edition bronze sculpture. First the reproduction mold is made in which layers of silicone rubber and plaster are delicately applied to the original work. Then hot wax is poured into the reproduction mold to form an exact replica of the original sculpture.
When the wax replica is removed from the mold, it is then inspected and refined or "chased" by hand to remove any imperfections that may have occurred in the reproduction process. Next, ceramic cup and wax sprues, or gates, are added which later will help channel the molten bronze into the shell to create the sculpture.
The next step is creating the ceramic shell by alternately dipping the wax replica over a period of several days into a vat of liquid slurry, then a vat of silica crystals. The shell is then set to dry, and the process repeats until the shell has reached the appropriate thickness and strength.
The finished shell is placed in a high temperature oven that melts and removes the wax (the traditional "lost wax" method). The hardened or "fired" shell is secured, so the molten bronze can now be poured into the wax impression.