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Writer's pictureGeoffrey C. Smith

The Patina Journal - Osprey Commission Artist Blog

an osprey holding a fish sculpture commission in progress at the foundry suspended with straps

Welcome to The Patina Journal. This artist blog features a spotlight on a client commission, a lamp focus, and message from Geoffrey about finding beauty in everyday life.


We would appreciate feedback from you and the opportunity to answer any questions. Please feel free to contact us.



“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.”

- The Lorax , Dr. Seuss


Mangrove King Lamp bronze sculpture by Geoffrey Smith with lampshade and light on depicting a kingfisher on a branch with a fish in its mouth

Sculpture Spotlight


This week's sculpture is the "Mangrove King Lamp." This bronze lamp depicts a Belted Kingfisher resting on a mangrove.


The "Mangrove King" has a become a timeless favorite, so Geoffrey decided to create a lamp using this beloved sculpture. Now you can have functionality and beauty in one piece with this lamp measuring 7"l x 6"w x 30.5"h.


For further information please contact us at

(772) 283-8336 or email us at info@geoffreysmith.com.


Osprey commission bronze sculpture by Geoffrey Smith depicting an osprey landing on a branch holding a fish

Client Commission Spotlight


There are few things more satisfying than seeing a client's vision become a gorgeous bronze. A wonderful couple that has been collecting Geoffrey's work for years came to the Studio looking for an Osprey to fit into their living room. After meeting with Geoffrey, a concept for an osprey landing with a fish in a cypress tree was born. Here you can see him creating a foam armature for the cypress tree, coating it with wax, the clay sculpture, the raw bronze being patinated at the foundry, and the finished piece. For more information on the process please click here to visit our website. If you have any questions, we are always happy to answer them.


Geoffrey in his studio creating the foam armature for a cypress tree
Geoffrey coating the form armature with wax in his studio, in this picture it is half covered

the cypress tree done in clay in Geoffrey's studio
a close-up of the base of the cypress tree in clay showcasing where it connects to the base

a mostly done osprey on top of the cypress tree at the foundry waiting on the patina
the completed Osprey sculpture in bronze depicting an osprey landing on a cypress tree with a fish in its talon

an osprey holding a fish sculpture commission in progress at the foundry suspended with straps
a close up on the fish being held by the osprey in its talon


a Crested Caracara flying through the air with some bright green trees and bluish gray skies in the background while the bird itself is mostly brown with a whiter neck and wing tips and a red face

Geoffrey's Field Notes


The ability to find beauty in our everyday surroundings is a gift. While driving through Florida there is an abundant amount of wildlife you might come across. One of them is a tropical falcon called a Crested Caracara. They are mostly found in Central and South America, but in the United States they are found in parts of Arizona, Florida and Texas.


A fun fact about this falcon is that some consider them the national bird of Mexico while others say it is the Golden Eagle. The Caracara were depicted in ancient Aztec art and are considered sacred. Another thing that makes them different is their diversified hunting techniques. They hunt small prey while flying overhead, scan road sides for dead animals and scratch around to uncover turtle eggs and insects. Their numbers are declining in some regions, but they are not considered endangered. If you would like to share your wildlife pictures with Geoffrey, email them to us. He enjoys seeing everyones photos of the wonderful world we live in together.


single Crested Caracara standing on a fence post with green grass and trees and blue gray skies in the background while the bird itself is brown with a white neck and a red face


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