Saturday 3 November 2012

Re-Cover Project - Week 2

A couple of familiar faces returned for the second session, as well as new participants, to try out more casting.
The work is more refined and thoughtful, as they begin to understand the process; impressing negative spaces in the clay then making the positives by pouring in the plaster.
We also introduced alginate to make whole casts, as shown by this hand, below. Alginate is used frequently by dentists to cast teeth! Now artists use it to cast just about anything. It is seaweed-based, therefore non-toxic and bio-degradeable, and it has a familiar smell of toothpaste!
The hand is enveloped in the alginate until it sets - only a few minutes - then removed. Plaster-of Paris is then poured into the negative void. When the plaster is set, the alginate is removed.....and voila!
The detail is so clear that you can make out the skin pores. This has encouraged and inspired a couple of participants to have their faces cast for next session!

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