Page 54 - Casting of Angels- Dave Parvin

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How to Patina a Life Casting

Made of Forton MG with Metal Powder

By David E. Parvin, A.L.I.

ne of the great things about Nov. and Dec. 2004, by DEP.) She
Forton MG or FMG is that very was then ready for patina.
credible cold cast bronzes can A logical question to ask here is
be achieved by adding metal why use copper powder rather than
powders and then getting the right bronze powder. There are a couple of
patina. (For a more information on reasons. The first is that I have found
FMG, see “Mixing Forton MG that copper powder in Forton MG
Simplified,” SJ, July 2003 by DEP.) produces a more convincing bronze
While almost anything can be cast in look than bronze powder does which,
FMG, it is especially useful for life in my opinion, is too dark. The
castings. For this purpose, I prefer it Photo 1: The alginate mold being second problem is that a copper
to regular bronze because it is lighter, removed from Ali casting accepts a patina, as described
captures detail more precisely, is far below, much more intensely. A third
less costly, can be used in one’s consideration is that bronze powder
home or studio, and doesn’t shrink, is about twice as expensive as copper
expand, or distort. Resins, both powder.
polyester and polyurethane, have There are two patina solutions
similar advantages, but FMG that I generally use, green called
additionally is water soluble, “Verdigris” and “Super Antique 40”
odorless, and non toxic. Fortunately, for black. Both may be purchased
the instructions for FMG include from several of the advertisers of
valuable information on applying sculpting supplies in the magazine.
patinas to FMG. but in this article, I Photo 2: Ali in plaster. The best known patinaest in
am going to explain how easy it is to Colorado where I live, Pat Kipper,
get a great patina on an FMG life gave me a recipe for Verdigris many
casting. All that’s needed are: years ago which I will share in case
1. Steel wool, preferably 0000 or anyone wants to become one step
extra fine. closer to self sufficient. Just add one
2. A floppy buffing wheel attached to ounce (28 grams) of cupric chloride
an electric drill. and six ounces (168 grams) of
3. “Tripoli” buffing compound, ammonium chloride to one half
preferably the water soluble kind. gallon (1.8 liters) of water.
4. Glossy clear acrylic spray. Increasing the amount of cupric
5. Several 2’’ cheap paint brushes. chloride will make the patina more
6. One or more patina solutions. blue.
In photograph #1, the alginate mold The sooner after taking a FMG
had just been removed from the casting from a mold that one applies
model/subject, Ali. (It is just a the Verdigris patina solution, the
coincidence that her name could Photo 3: Ali in unpatinaed metallic more intense the color will be.
stand for “Association of Life casters Forton MG Usually, I like the hair and the cloth
International.) At that point, I could to wet plaster, I allowed plaster Ali in to have more color than the flesh and
have made a positive casting in photograph #2 to dry for a few days. apply the solution to these areas the
metallic FMG directly in the alginate After opening the eyes and correction day the piece is cast. In photograph
mold; however, I was planning on a few small defects, I made a mold of #4, another of my assistants, Kelsey,
sculpting the eyes open and plaster Ali in silicone rubber and cast is applying the Verdigris. If one
modifications are less obvious if a her again, this time in FMG with waits a day or two before this step,
second mold is made for the final copper powder, 500 RL, in the first it’s a good idea to buff the surface
casting. I initially made a plaster two coats. Ali, held by assistant with steel wool to expose the metal
positive. Since opening the eyes Audra in photograph #3 looked like in the FMG so that it will react better
requires adding as well as taking pale chocolate ( See “Secondary with the Verdigris. Leaving particles
material away and since I use wax Molds in Life Casting, Part II, SJ, of the steel wool on the casting will
for this purpose which will not stick cause them to react to the solution
1