The Casting of Multiples Two Halves Make A Whole
Building a 3 Part Plaster Mould
I chose to make a mold of a dolls head. I felt it needed a bigger base, so used some air dry clay tobuild up one. I also filled the head with plaster to make it firmer and keep its shape.
Eyes, nose, and mouth filled in with clay. The head was buried in clay with just the front part of the face exposed. Mold soap was painted on everything
Cottle boards were clamped around the object. The right amount of plaster was determined, and mixed up. when ready, the plaster was poured into the mold.
When the plaster was dry, the mold was turned over. Clay was used to build up 1/4 of the mold. New coddle boards were clamp together, a coating of mold soap, and plaster poured in. When that was dry, the clay was removed from the other side and it was mold soaped and poured with plaster.
Once the plaster was dried, the three parts were pulled apart and the doll head removed. I then used a drywall scraper to round out the edges. once the mold was done, it was set onto wood boards to air dry.
After a week, the mould was dry enough to use for slip casting. Black rubber bands were used to hold the 3 mold pieces together. Porcelain Slip was poured into the mould and left to sit for 5 minutes. Then the mold was turned upside down and allowed to drain for 10 minutes. Then, it was turned right side up and allowed to dry for 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, the elastics were taken off, and the mold pulled apart to reveal the cast. After casting 4 heads, the mold needed to dry out for a day.
Add Slip. Pull Apart. Repeat…
Some forms I am adding texture, others are being reshaped. I don’t know how many heads I will need for this project, so will just keep making them until a few days before bisque firing. Jeff says they are going into the Kiln November 1st.
They all made it out of the bisque kiln just fine. I chose 3 of them to go into theRaku firing next week. I glazed them with the white crackle Raku glaze. Some areas I left unglazed to burn black in the firing.
I glazed the bulk of the heads in a cone 6 clear glaze. I did use a couple of coloured glazes on 4 heads to to experiment with some color.
I have slip cast another 8 heads. This thing is multiplying like rabbits. I see the Installation in my head and there are heaps and heaps of these heads involved. My creations come forth first, then the explaining starts. It has always been that way.
Some writing appeared in my brain to try to explain what it is like sometimes to live with Mental Illness.
Pictures of my iterations of the doll head
With my limited technology, I made a little film. Welcome to inside my head.