Page 99 - Casting of Angels- Dave Parvin

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drawn a line from the inside of a artwork!" and not, "Is that you?" If
closed eyelid up and out in the you can accomplish this, not only
approximate shape of an open eyelid will you get greater satisfaction but
to the outside corner of the closed your work will be more marketable.
eye. Then he or she will scrape off My next article in this series will
the upper eyelid. It doesn't work. In show some different and, I hope,
the first place, I had presented an exciting things that can be done with
impossible task. In order to torso castings.
accurately open an eye, the model
must be present for reference; eyes
differ considerably. Secondly,
scraping off the eyelid as described
above does not accurately open the
eye. Thirdly, material must be added
as well as taken away because the
area around the eye changes slightly Photo 12
when the eye is opened.

4. Be Creative. Photo 13
Be open to something different. I
usually ask my clients how they Information referenced here
would like to be "captured in time and except as noted are from
forever." While most rely on my previous editions of Sculpture
judgment, occasionally someone Journal and written by yours truly:
comes up with an interesting idea.
Recently, a young girl, 13 years old, 1) "Secondary Molds in Life Casting,"
wanted to be cast as a ballet dancer. November and December 2004.
2) "Casting Perfect Ears," May 2004.
Wearing a leotard got us about half 3) "Real Beginnings for Faux Metal
way there. But to really look right, Finishes" September 2003, Mark Fields.
Photo 11 she needed her hair in a bun. Since 4) "Mixing Forton MG Simplified," July
we were planning on making her into 2003.
While it is beyond the scope a wall hanging rather than in the 5) "Watertrap..." SJ, December 2003.
of this article to provide adequate round, her head would have to be 6) "It's Very Clear," SJ, January 2002.
instructions for opening eyes, here is turned almost completely to the side 7) I feel that Portrait Sculpting by
a brief explanation of how I do it. for the bun to be visible. She had hair Philippe and Charisse Farut,
Since, as explained above, I make the well below her shoulders and, at first, ISBN 9-9755065-0-1, is probably the best
original positive from the alginate I was reluctant to not include it reference for opening eyes.
mold in a soft plaster which is easy to hanging down. But she was right, the 8) "Life Casting a Head in the Round,
February and March 2005.
work, I allow it to dry out for about a finished mask really looked good 9) “When Two Heads Are Better Than
week so that wax or clay will stick to (Photograph #6) compliments of nine One” June 2004
it. Then I have the model return to year old brother and sister twins
my studio and using him or her for (Photograph #8). Doing two at once Photo 11: Head in the round with eyes
reference, carve and fill in as is also more complicated and I open. Material - polyester resin with
necessary to accurately open one eye. recommend having at least two crushed limestone, makes a very effective
This will take at least an hour. So as assistants. (9) fake marble.
not to inconvenience the model more Photograph # 13 is of a profile of Photo 12: Head in the round in clay
than necessary, I open the other eye a Native American young lady with which had been considerably reworked.
after the model has left. While her hair flying behind her as if Finished portrait was in FMG, MP, CAP.
getting the first eve correct takes running. In her hair is a wolf. To Photo 13: Mask of Native American girl
cut in half (the mask not the girl!) with
some practice, making the second a make this, I cut a mask in half and sculpted hair and wolf. Material - FMG,
mirror image is just as challenging. I sculpted in the hair and the wolf. MP, CAP.
have yet to come across any really This is an example of taking a life
good instructions on opening the casting and turning it into a piece of
eyes of life castings. Since this is art with possible appeal beyond just a David Parvin is a Denver sculptor.
really sculpting and not casting, I portrait. He may be reached at 303-321-1074
would encourage anyone who wants Most portrait photographs only if you would like to discuss art, fly
to perfect the technique to study any have meaning to the subject and fishing, flying, or grandchildren.
of the better books for sculpting the family. I tell my clients that I intend
head. (7) It is my intention, however to make them into nieces of art. My
to cover this subject in detail in a goal is that when someone comes
series of future articles. into his/her home and sees the Sculpture Journal - May 2006
casting, his first thought is, "Great
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