Southern Clays to Plaster of Paris

How to create a plaster bust from a clay sculpture by Marcus Wainwright

Category:

Education

Tags:

• clay
• plaster
• bust
• sculptor
• traditional
• ton
• gibs
• Büste
• bildhauer
• craft
• steinbildhauer

[mrw157]

Make sure that your plaster is mixed without stirring in air. Wobble or move as much air out of the plaster mix before pouring. Scoop off all the foam from the top of the liquid plaster before pouring. Pour the plaster in a way to minimise bubbles (this is nearly impossible but big bubbles do rise quite easily). Shake or gently knock the filled mould to bring the bubbles up to the surface. You might have to do this several times whilst filling.

[jazzmight]

i have a question! i did a bust of a man cast in p.o.p but he came out with small pores.. i know this is due to air bubbles, but how do i avoid this the next time? do i just pour in the p.o.p like u did?

[mrw157]

I use petroleum gel mixed with fuel light as a release agent. This might also help air from sticking to the plaster. You will always end up with some bubbles, especially on the overhanging surfaces i.e. chin, ear lobs... but you shouldn't get lots of cluster of bubbles. This will definitely relate to too much air in the plaster mix. You will also always have to clean up the finished cast - you just can't see those marks and holes on my video :-)

[busybuzzbuzz]

sorry i just don't understand it. You already have a bust made of clay

[mrw157]

Clay will dry, shrink, crack and can be easily distorted. The plaster bust can last indefinitely. This sculpture was inspired by the plaster busts I saw in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris. These plaster busts were then past on to stone sculptors to create marble busts. This whole clay - plaster - marble detour is necessary as it is next to impossible to create a matching likeness of a person strait into stone. You also have the additional advantage of the clay model being easily altered.

[busybuzzbuzz]

Was this really necessary? And where a mask before you gtet silicosis.

[mrw157]

This is how one would have created a plaster bust before the days of silicon and fiberglass. The cost of material was a fraction compared with modern film industry products, but you might spend twice the time creating the bust.

Regarding silicosis: wet clay does not cause silicosis and plaster of paris is pure lime.

[jazzmight]

@mrw157 thank you! i will definitely try this the next time :)

[busybuzzbuzz]

.@mrw157

I was referring to the dry plaster of paris. Lime can still attach itself to your silia. Please wear a mask

[Darkdemonoflite]

Dangggg!!!!