By Tayleigh Davis - bio | email
ALBANY, GA (WALB) - More than three years after its unveiling, the famous Ray Charles sculpture is getting some big touch ups.
Sculptor Andy Davis is spending the weekend touching up the monument. He's using heat from a propane can to warm the bronze. That allows the colors to soak in better. He mixes WD- 40 with different shades of wax to create a ceramic like finish. He'll then buff it down.
After Davis heats and paints each section from head to toe, he'll re-apply several times.
"It's permanent and it's very similar to the same product you would paint stove tops on," said Davis. "It's very durable and beautiful."
The sculpture is made of brass. Over time, when the color wears off, the green tent is exposed.
"Some artists like it to turn that patina color but it washes out the beauty of the sculpture," Davis noted. "It should be cleaned every year. Not this extensive but definitely cleaned."
Davis also plans to re-paint the rotating platform that has chipped over the years. As people watch Davis follow his passion, Mills Bason appreciates his work.
"This is the closest I've been to it but even from a distance it's still pretty cool," said Bason. "He's done a good job with that and I'm glad he's restoring it."
From the textures in his velvet blue jacket to the veins in his hands, Davis embellishes each detail. He hopes people will continue to enjoy his work for many years to come.
Davis will start back Sunday morning, then he'll hit the road back to McDonough where he he lives. He shouldn't have to make any significant restorations for several years.
His next big project is a life size sculpture of Vincent van Gogh.
Copyright 2011 WALB. All rights reserved. Feedback
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WALB, a Raycom Media Station. 
