Life-Casting the Model

List of Products, Tools and Materials Used

·         Plaster Bandages

·         Alginate

·         Plastic Containers (to put the Alginate into and to mix the plaster)

·         Cold Water (to mix with the Alginate or Plaster)

·         Plastic gloves

·         Pen (to draw on hair line)

·         Spatulas (to wipe away the Alginate if it starts to block nose's)

·         Chair (for model to sit on)

·         Bald Cap

·         Pros-Aide

·         Vaseline

·         Plaster  

·         Clay (to plug into nostrils when pouring the plaster)

Step-by-Step Instructions for Face Casting

1.    I prepared myself by gathering together all my equipment and put my protective clothing on, which included gloves and overalls.

2.    The day before I’d carried out a patch test to check my model wasn’t allergic to pros-aide.

3.    I didn’t need to carry out a patch test on my model for the other products I was using as they are hypoallergenic.

4.    The first thing was to prepare my models eyebrows, eyelashes and hair. I applied Vaseline to the eyebrows and eyelashes where the Alginate may stick.

5.    Using a bald cap I had previously made the night before I placed it over the models hair and stuck the edges down with pros-aide glue. I drew little dots onto the bald cap to show where the hair line was. The ink from these dots would then transfer onto the Alginate which would then go onto the plaster.

6.    I used a plastic sheet to cover my models clothes.

7.    I then got my model to sit on a stool and checked that he was feeling comfortable, as the process would last for about fifteen minutes.

 

8.    I then prepared the Alginate, which was mixed in a tub in the following proportions; 1 part Alginate to 2 parts cold water.

9.    The mixture was quite thick but is easily applied by hand and runs nicely down the face. In some areas such as the models eyes, mouth and creases of the nose, I had to work the Alginate in to make sure there was a good coverage. This helps to avoid air bubbles.

 

10. I then applied plaster bandages to the Alginate to give more support to the mould. The bandages are dipped into water and then rubbed to mix in the plaster and then placed on top of the Alginate.

 

11. The mould is then left to set for a few more minutes.

12. When the mould has set, the model starts to move their face gently to loosen the mould and I gently eased it off.

13. I then rinsed the mould under cold water and placed a couple of wet paper towels in it to stop it from shrinking whilst I casted the ears.
 

14. To mould the ears I followed the same sequence. I blocked the ears with a bit of cotton wool first. Then however, I had to really make sure the Alginate got into all the creases of the ear and behind the ear as air bubbles could easily form.

 

15. The casting plaster was mixed in a tub. The plaster was added to the water until there was sufficient to create a little hill above the water line. That was allowed to stand until the powder had all dampened. I then mixed it with my hand until there were no lumps left and the plaster was a liquid.

16. The plaster was poured into the mould until it began to set. At this stage the plaster feels like double cream and I was able to spread it up the sides of the mould. As I progressed the plaster further thickened to like a clotted cream.

17. This was left to set until all was solid.

 

18. The cast and the mould were then turned over and the mould was gently tapped to help release the cast from the mould. Where the mould was trapped in the folds of the cast I had to pull away the plaster bandages and then chip away the Alginate. Most of the Alginate pulled away clear to leave a clean cast but some parts still needed to be chipped away.

 

19. Once the mould was completely removed I then used sandpaper and sculpting tools to correct any imperfections on the cast.

 

20. I then drilled slight little dents to show where the hair line was.

I really enjoyed this first part of the process. As I had done body casting before a felt quite confident and knew what do to. I felt it had gone really well and my cast at turned out great and I was really pleased I decided to also cast the ears. I’m now interested to see and do the next stage of this process which is Moulding: Part 1.