Page 199 - Casting of Angels- Dave Parvin
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I were preparing Caylie's hair well conditioned hair. Audra and
with a thick conditioner to I made a plaster cast from the
prevent her hair from becoming mold which was completed by the
stuck in the alginate that would time Caylie emerged from the
cover her. My models usually tell shower, photograph #9.
me that well conditioned hair was
an unexpected bonus. Photograph Step 2: Enhancing the Plaster
#5 shows Audra securing a piece Casting
of cloth to cover up her Caylie’s
developing assets. The cloth was There are always at least
fitted tightly so as to be invisible some repairs that need to be made
under whatever faerie garb we Photo #3 to the plaster cast such as
later decide to add. While her left trimming the back to lie flat and
ear was completely exposed, her fixing any small imperfections. I
right ear, not shown, protruded then had a plaster cast of the
through her hair in a very faerie- human Caylie which was too nice
like manner. to waste. I went ahead and made a
Alginate is purchased as a rubber mold of the plaster and
powder and mixed with water to a made a cold cast bronze copy for
consistency that is thin enough to Caylie. (Photograph #10) The
spread on but thick enough to stay process used was the same as
in place. Notice in photograph #6 Photo #4 described below for the faerie
that Caylie was leaning against a portrait. At that point, I was ready
padded board that was tilted back to begin the really fun part,
about ten degrees for her comfort turning Caylie into a faerie.
while Audra and I applied the The first thing I did was to
alginate. While it might seem refresh myself on what a faerie
logical to have the model lie should look like. Fortunately
down, her hair, face, and any soft there is a helpful book with the
body parts such as breasts would encouraging title How to Draw
be distorted. The alginate used and Paint Fairies. (2.) Looking
here was FiberGel by Artmolds through the book, I realized that
which gels to a soft rubber-like Photo #5 all I needed to do was give her
state in about five minutes. pointed ears; open her eyes; and
It is necessary to reinforce the add some faerie accessories such
alginate so that when it is as flowers, leaves, and wings.
removed from the model, it will Pointing the ears was a cinch.
retain its shape. In photograph #7, They were shaped in sculpting
Audra and I were applying a layer wax which adheres nicely to dry
of cheese cloth and very fast plaster. The great thing about
setting plaster. This supporting pointing the ears was that there
mold is referred to as the was no right or wrong, I just
“mother” mold. Notice that the experimented until the ears
nostrils were kept clear for her to Photo #6 looked right to me. My only real
breathe during the whole concern was to be sure not to
procedure which only took about make the ears so big that she
twenty minutes. It is never looked sinister like a werwolf.
necessary or even recommended I had Caylie return to the
to put straws into someone’s studio and sit for me so that I
nose, not only can they distort the could get her eyes right.
nostrils but if bumped can injure Unfortunately, opening the eyes
the model. doesn’t require that you just
In photograph #8, the mold scrape part of the eyelids off.
had just been removed and an Photo #7 When a person opens her eyes,
excited Caylie had soft skin and the tissue surrounding the eyes
