Page 62 - Casting of Angels- Dave Parvin

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lace which will add a very nice Facial hair, beards and metallic Forton MG. Hair is really
texture to the casting and make it mustaches, cast very well this same pretty easy to sculpt; I intend on
look as if she was wearing something way. However if the hair is short, I describing the process in a future
preserving her modesty and usually use petroleum jelly since it article.
reputation! tastes better than the conditioner and There isn't enough space in this
In photograph #6, I have just will still easily wash out. If you are article or even in this entire magazine
lifted off the alginate mold. As it casting torsos, Cholesterol works for to cover the casting of hair in its
came free from the bottom, I had one both pubic and armpit hair. Always almost infinite varieties. But if you
of my assistants pull the hair loose let the model apply Cholesterol to have been avoiding hair, I hope I
from the mold. The hair will not be her/his own pubic hair. Make sure have given you enough information
stuck into the alginate but will cling that she/he applies a liberal coat; so that when you start your next
slightly because of the thick butter- pulling out clumps of pubic hair is casting you can say, "Walk right in,
like conditioner. Short hair comes not conducive to friendship. Chest sit right down, daddy (or mommy,
free with no assistance. Note that hair for the gorilla types can be a sister, brother, etc.), let your hair
Laura is smiling and in no discomfort problem because matting down the hang down."
at all. hair will cause it to be very visible in
While Laura was in the shower the casting. If you do not want the
washing the conditioner out of her hair to be part of the casting, it isn't
hair, I made a plaster positive from necessary to shave or wax (ouch!) it
the alginate mold. In photograph #7, off, trimming it back so that it isn't
Laura has emerged from the shower more than about a half inch (one
no worse for the wear. If you have centimeter) tong and using a very
read my recent articles in SJ, (See small amount of conditioner will
esp. May 2006 for faces) then you are solve the problem. Alginate doesn't
aware that I do not use plaster as a stick to hair but it does tangle in hair
final casting material but will clean that is long enough. Hair on arms and
up this plaster positive and make a legs is usually short enough not to Photograph #12
silicone rubber mold for the need any release at all.
completed mask usually cast in Photographs #9 through #14
Forton MG with metal powers. The show examples of hair cast in
completed casting is in photograph different ways. #9 is what I call
#8. mermaid hair. White very appealing,
Casting hair does have some the model must have hair long
limitations. First of all, the hair will enough and be comfortable in this
be matted down as if wet minimizing somewhat more revealing pose. The
the styles that can be achieved. young lady in # 10 had her hair in a
However, it is possible to shape long braid. We did work a light coat
enough texture into the conditioned of conditioner into the hair prior to
hair so that the effect can still be very braiding it and then applied some to
appealing. In any event, the results the surface as well. The ballerina look
will be far better than covering up the in #11 was done the same way. #12 is
hair. Short hair such as most men different only in that the head was
have and hair long enough to fall cast completely in the round with no Photograph #13
below the shoulders cast just fine. difficulty.
Hair length in between is the least Photographs #13 and #14 have
advantageous. The problem is that if hair that was sculpted. #13 is a face in
the hair will not reach and therefore the round. The subject had very fine
touch and stick to the shoulders, the blond hair that didn't cast with
cast hair will just hang straight down sufficient bulk to took right. I cast the
and not be very interesting. It is head in oil based clay and sculpted on
possible for the model to wear a wig, additional hair. For # 14, I cut the
even a cheap costume wig works mask of a Native American model in
quite well. Also, additional hair can half and sculpted the flowing hair Photograph #14
be sculpted onto the casting. complete with a wolf's face. Both of

these were then remolded and cast in Sculpture Journal-July 2006

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