Post #661013 by danlovestikis on Sun, Dec 9, 2012 2:20 PM

hang10tiki it is always fun to read your comments.

Progress Report on the Severed Head.
Here's Dan's collection again.
Notches version, my bowl version, my mug version (both done in 2005 in clay), a real Ren Clark severed head. I did mine from a photo. When we got a real one we were surprised that it was so small.

It's never to late to tweak the sculpt, so just before we molded it I did just that.

I used really soft clay to press around the ears.

Dan worked to make snakes for the mold box.

I figured out I could make 2 sides at the same time. Front and Back. So I built a wall where the side pieces would go. I didn't put the box around it until I had mold soaped the sculpt three times. The soap is just a barrier since it's not preventing plaster from sticking to plaster.

The box was put together and the snakes put along the seam lines.

Dan and I mixed the 1st grade plaster until it was like buttermilk on my fingers.

After it was poured and had hardened was took off the side. We now have the front and back done.

I did not want the pieces to come loose so I left all but one side of the box together while I began to carefully remove the clay.

I took out the middle clay so I could grab the sides to pull the rest out.

I used a sharp tool to cut the plaster at the bottom of each slab so it would be tight when I poured the side pieces. I used a brush and put on three layers of mold soap wiping it away between each application. It was easier to do it with the side off.

I added the snakes to all the seams. The same steps were accomplished on the other side. Doing two each time saved a lot of work.

After the side pieces were poured and hardened I removed the box and we strapped it all together. Then I rasped the top to make the four pieces the same height so I could turn it over.

The bottom is now exposed. I carved into it Back From The Dead Ren Clark c 2013 Wendy Cevola
I added an edge so that the bottom will be like the original.

Dan noticed that I didn't have locks. I used a melon scooper to make some. One in each corner. Dan pointed out that in the past we varied them to make it easier to put together. He really saved the day. This is a team effort. So I added one more dip to one of the sides.

We always wear face masks when we have plaster or clay dust floating around. At the end of the day we clean up.

I'm leaving the mold in one big strapped piece for a few days. Then we will open it to see if the sculpt survived or if I lost it. Most importantly is whether or not the mold will work for this project.

Let me know if you want to sign up for one $125 each. The list of buyers so far is on page 1 of this thread. Cheers, Wendy

[ Edited by: danlovestikis 2012-12-09 14:25 ]

[ Edited by: danlovestikis 2012-12-10 21:11 ]