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Making a 3-D Faerie Portrait
By David E. Parvin, A.L.I.
n this article, I will explain which was developed for making
how my assistants and I dental impressions. Its primary
transformed a young lady into ingredient is made from seaweed
a three dimensional faerie and getting covered with alginate
portrait. The process that we used is similar to getting a seaweed
involved four steps: making a life treatment at an exclusive spa.
casting of the model, enhancing Of course, I could have
the life casting, making a mold of sculpted Caylie in the more
the enhanced life casting, and traditional method of having her
casting the finished portrait. For sit for me while I shaped her
anyone interested in learning likeness in wax or clay and then
more about the process, see the cast it in bronze or resin as in my
end of this article for sources of Photo #1 pieces shown in photographs #1
materials and information. and #2, “The Shell Game” and
Often I have been asked this “Asrai.” But life casting is
about the creative process, analogous to “three dimensional
“Which comes first, the idea or photography” and just as a
the model?” Usually it’s the idea photograph can be more real and
and then I look for the right personal than a painting or
subject or model. But sometimes, drawing, so can a life casting be
as was in this case, the model has when compared to a regular
been the inspiration. Recently, an sculpture. The criticism of life
aspiring young ballerina, Caylie, casting is that it is somehow
and her mother, Sue, introduced “cheating.” (1) But life casting is
themselves having recognized me just another art form and while it
from my involvement with may look easy, or at least easier
Denver’s dance community. I than more traditional sculpting,
couldn’t help but be impressed doing it well does take some
with how much Caylie looked knowledge and practice. As in
like a faerie and I said so to Sue photography, anyone can take a
who told me I wasn’t the first to snapshot, but not just anyone can
say that. I invited them to come be an Ansel Adams.
by my studio even though I had
no specific idea of what we might Step 1: Making a Life Casting of
do other than something faerie- Caylie
like. But before we met again, I Photo #2
got to thinking that Caylie would I was confident that Caylie at
make a great faerie portrait. Of down to the skin texture. Life thirteen would have no problem
course, with the right casting has been around for a very being cast; usually a child eight or
modifications, anybody can be long time, at least 3000 years. older will endure and even enjoy
turned into a believable faerie. Historically, the process usually the process. But to introduce her
It’s just that Caylie’s naturally involved covering a deceased to and make her comfortable with
occurring faerieness inspired me subject with plaster and making a life casting, I suggested that we
to begin this project. death mask. But now we now first cast her foot en pointe,
I stated above that we started have materials that reproduce something all dancers are eager to
with a life casting, a process by detail to a much higher degree, do. Photo #3 shows an excited
which a mold is made directly are approved for skin contact, and Caylie and her mom looking over
from the model and if done can be used on living subjects her finished foot.
properly captures an exact comfortably and harmlessly. The In photograph #4, my very
likeness in amazing detail right most commonly used is alginate able assistant, Audra Vaughn, and
