FAQs Answers: What is BODY PARTS™?
A Brief History

My primary concern in developing the BODY PARTS™ LifeCast™ Kit was safety. Not theoretical but actual. After all I created it, at first, just to teach my children (2 and 5 at the time) a few things about art and have some fun at the same time.
The portion which comes in contact with the skin is made exclusively from food and pharmecuetical grade chemicals or inert clays which are frequently used in the food and cosmetic industries. The purest available! See our Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
Within the context of art materials, they also had to be pleasant to work with, nearly foolproof, inexpensive and allow even beginners to produce quality results. As I discovered on my very first attempt with my 2 year old and many thousands of people have discovered since, we succeeded!
This was in 1986-87. I had so many requests from other parents to do LifeCasts™ of their kid's hands (and from adults for other parts of the anatomy) that my studio was filled with other people's body parts. Ergo the name, BODY PARTS™ The ORIGINAL LifeCast™ Kit.
The product was formally introduced in 1989. This is a photograph from that weekend at the Del Amo Fashion Square in Torrance, California where the crowds became so huge that the fire department broke them up!
A few months later we attended the National Art Materials Trade Association (NAMTA) show in San Francisco, CA where the LifeCast™ kit received the Best New Product of the Year Award.
Two months later at the International Invention Convention In Anahiem, CA the BODY PARTS™ kit again took top honors as the Best Novelty Invention of the year.
Several months of wild customer enthusiasm followed. I appeared on such TV shows as "L.A. In The Morning", "Sun-Up San Diego", etc. The kit was the subject of many newspaper and magazine articles (even Playboy®) and we introduced the ChildCast™ kit just for kids then later, the popular StudioPack™ for the classroom.
The following year it was awarded the Best New Craft Product of the year at the enormous Hobby Industry Association trade show in Dallas, TX.
Improvements have been made since then. Many thousands of people around the world have since been introduced to this fascinating, unique art.
Try it. See for yourself how easy it is to . . .
Make Yourself Immortal!™

Earthium™(f/x) Advanced LifeCast™ Compound:
It was apparent that , using BODY PARTS™ I could not capture a child's face, as many customers requested. As fast and easy as it was, it was simply too slow and awkward for a child's patience. So, I went back to my studio and by 1990-91 came up with Earthium™(f/x): Advanced LifeCast™ Compound.
This amazing 2-part medium not only makes it possible to LifeCast™ faces while just holding your breath but, it captures every nuance of expression as well! It can also be made slow enough to do entire bodies all at once!

How many things can I make with a kit?
Our award winning, BODY PARTS™ LifeCast™ Kits are perfect for beginners, teachers or experienced sculptors. They contain everything you need to complete a remarkably personal artifact. Whether as a timeless family keepsake, business display or professional commission, you'll enjoy the process as much as the finished piece.
There are three 'kit' sizes (which contain everything you need) as well as bulk and advanced materials for more complex or professional applications.
The ChildCast™ Kit is large enough for 1 or 2 hand or foot projects of children under 10. This of course depends on the size and/or age of the child. You can also make 3 or 4 such LifeCasts™ of an infant with the materials in one kit but, you would use small paper cups for the process instead of the can it comes in. NOTE: Infants not suggested for a beginning project.
The ORIGINAL LifeCast™ Kit is large enough for 1 or 2 adult hand/foot sculptures or 3 to 4 of children. Again, depending on size. With some practice 6-10 infant LifeCasts™ can be done with this kit's materials.
Our huge, economical StudioPack™ is designed for schools but is also ideal for birthday parties or any ongoing type of use. We have done up to 25 sets of elementary school children's 'praying hands' from a single StudioPack™ or 15 to 20 of the adult size.
There are infinite ways to use our LifeCast™ mediums. Nearly anything can be duplicated in everything from bronze (via wax) to chocolate for an edible LifeCast™! Faces can be duplicated with any expression in less than 45 seconds and entire bodies are now a possibility for the more ambitious artist with our Earthium™ (f/x).
Copyright © 1987 through 2003 by MSWinn. Thank you for visiting www.lifecast.net!
ToP
1/18/03

LifeCast™ & MSW Creative Works Legal Information:

Contents of this web site (lifecast.net) and all life cast materials and other art and sculpture products or lifecast kit packaging, art techniques and sculpture instructions copyright © 1986-2002 by Mark S. Winn. All rights reserved. The terms BODY PARTS™, LifeCast™, ChildCast™, StudioPack™, ArtForm™, ArtCast™, Earthium™, Earthium(f/x)™, ShrinKast™, PolyART™, WaterTrap™, BlendBag™, Successful Creativity Guarantee™, LifeMask™, FastMask™ as well as the phrase "Make YourSelf Immortal!™" and any other art materials product or craft item denoted by a small 'TM' (such as in LifeCast™) are trademarks. The phrases life cast and life casting or the words lifecast and lifecasting are generic.
Our LifeCast™ products or other sculpture, mold making and art materials products are are entirely safe within the context of arts & crafts when used as directed. Other arts & crafts materials shown here each carry their own warnings and degrees of safety. They are available for use as creative mediums AT YOUR OWN RISK and since we cannot control the actual use of these art products, we disclaim any responsibility for damage or injury caused by incorrect or experimental life cast, sculpture, life mask, erotic art or other mold making or creative applications.
NOT FOR USE BY CHILDREN: These arts & crafts materials may be used with children of any age but should never be used by an unsupervised child. A "child" is defined by law as anyone under the age of 18 years. Our art, lifecast or sculpture product prohibitions against unsupervised use by children therefore applies to all persons under that age. "Supervised" by definition means at all times, through each step of any use of our life cast or other art materials. Such supervision must be by an adult over the age of 18 years while using the BODY PARTS™ LifeCast™ kits or other life cast, sculpture and art materials.
Our life cast, sculpture and other art materials should never be used by anyone who cannot read, understand and apply the language in which the lifecast, sculpture or art materials' instructions appear. The terms of said language are exclusively defined in any standard, widely accepted and comprehensive dictionary of that language and are meant to be construed in no other manner.
Purchase and/or use of our life cast, sculpture or other art materials implies your understanding and acceptance of these reasonable terms. If you do not agree, for any reason, please do not purchase or use our lifecast, sculpture, mold making or other arts & crafts products.
The information contained in this document is given in good faith based on our current knowledge. It is only an indication and is in no way binding, particularly as regards infringement d or prejudice to third party rights through the use of our products. MSW GUARANTEES THAT ITS PRODUCTS COMPLY WITH ITS SALES SPECIFICATIONS. This information must on no account be used as a substitute for necessary prior tests which alone can ensure that a product is suitable for a given use. Users are responsible for ensuing compliance with local legislations and for obtaining the necessary certifications and authorizations. Users are requested to check that they are in possession of the latest version of this document.
Contact MSW Creative Works by mail, eMail, telephone or fax via the Company Information shown by clicking our logo on any page.
Thank you for visiting www.lifecast.net.