Page 63 - Casting of Angels- Dave Parvin

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Sculpting Hair in Life Casting,

Part 2
By David E. Parvin, A.L.I.

ast month, July 2006, I explained volume and weight. The same image
how easy it is to cast hair so that sculpted has to be done just right or
the finished mask becomes a the piece will appear to be
much more recognizable portrait than unbalanced. I said “usually has
without hair. But there are some volume and... almost no weight”
limitations. For example, because the since if hair is compacted into a bun,
hair must be coated with a thick braid, or, to some extent, a pony tail,
conditioner, it will have a “wet” look it can seem to be more substantial
as if the person had just come from a and is easier to capture than loose
pool or shower. The amount of detail hair. If the hair and its volume verses
that can be captured is directly weight isn’t quite clear, consider
proportional to the thickness or body something similar, smoke and clouds. Photograph #1
of the hair. Photograph #1 shows a All three of these are no problem for
young lady whose hair was ideal for a painter. Half way between a
casting and required no painting and a sculpture, a bas relief,
enhancement. But what about when works pretty well too. But a three
the subject has very thin hair or you dimensional, in the round sculpture is
just want to add hair for some special a little trickier to pull off and be
effect. For example, I have had convincing. There is a Latin phrase
women whose hair wasn’t long by Catullus that is a favorite of mine
enough request what I call mermaid that almost fits here, “Sed mulier
hair as in photo #2, i.e. that their cupido quod dicit amanti in ventro et
breasts be at least partially covered rapida scribere oportet aqua.” For
by their hair. A simple solution is to those who have forgotten their Latin,
have the person wear a wig. It or more sadly, never learned Latin,
doesn’t even have to be a good wig, a “What a woman says to her lusty
cheap costume wig will do nicely. lover is best written on the wind or
(Photograph #3) But it’s pretty easy rapidly moving water.” Photograph #2

to sculpt on additional hair. The I distinctly remember when I realized
procedure is to make an alginate the second point I want to emphasize.
impression of the model, cast a I was in Scottsdale, AZ and was
plaster positive, sculpt the hair on to going from gallery to gallery
the plaster, make a rubber mold of enjoying the art. I came across a
the repaired mask, and cast the bronze pheasant taking flight as if
improved version. I realize that is escaping an enemy. The artist had
about the same degree of over meticulously sculpted in every detail
simplification as explaining that to of each feather. I have always been a
carve a horse from marble, just cut fan of detail and accuracy and I am
away everything that doesn’t look confident that I have seen far more
like horse. I’ll give you better work that was under finished than
directions but first let me explain a overworked. But in this case, the
few things about hair, especially pheasant had no life whatsoever, it Photograph #3
sculpted hair whether on life castings looked like a bronze stuffed bird; it
or more traditional sculptures. just wasn’t believable. At that
The first and most important moment I had an “ah ha” experience
thing to understand is that in life, hair and understood something that I Photo 1: Young lady with great hair
usually has volume and takes up should have figured out much sooner, for casting, required no additional
space but has almost no weight. sometimes it looks more real to sculpting.
Imagine someone with long hair on a sculpt (or paint) the way the eye sees Photo 2: Mermaid hair which covers
windy day; the hair can be blown it rather than the way it actually is. enough of the breast to be
straight out to the side without Had the artist loosened up a little, he respectable
unbalancing the person. But hair or she would have made a more Photo 3: An example of casting
made of bronze, marble, plaster, believable pheasant in flight. Since someone in a wig.
wood, Forton MG, etc. has both then I have seen this same mistake
1