The Basics of Lifecasting:

It is important to know how and why BODY PARTS™ and other LifeCast™ mediums work. Read this section before doing your first project. Questions? Contact us by eMail before you start.

1. Temperature is very important! For the timings in our Step-By-Step Project the powders and the water must be room temperature, about 65 degrees (F). If unsure let everything sit in a cool room for 3-4 hours before using.

2. A Matrix is used to measure and hold the fluids until they set. The clear cylinder is used for this kit so you can easily see the model's position.

3. BlendBags™ are used to mix the mediums quickly without making too many bubbles. You can also use a wire whisk in a bowl to mix the powders or a metal spatula in a paper container for the PolyArt™ if you prefer.

5. Hook & Loop: These self adhesive strips of material are cut into 1/2 inch pieces and used for 2 purposes:

•, Attach them inside of your casting container (matrix) to grip onto the mold & prevent distortion (the hook or the loop side).

•, Attach them to the bottoms of the sculptures to prevent furniture scratches (the softer loop side).

6. For a round cast base leave 1 inch of the matrix empty when measuring the water for the molding media. This is then filled with cement or other casting media during the next steps.

•, Held Objects as illustrated here can be trapped in a LifeCast™ to add meaning and interest.

•, Be sure to understand the techniques and potential problems of these mixed media sculptures before trying one. They are explained in the Alternatives areas and in the LifeCast™ Library.

How To Minimize Air Bubbles:

Air Bubbles Come From 3 Sources:

1. Surface Bubbles cling to the skin, (hair shafts, between fingers, etc.) They appear as bumps anywhere on the sculpture. To prevent them wet the skin and move around in the liquid ArtForm™ or Earthium™ before it sets.

2. Mold Bubbles are mixed into the mold media. They will float up and stick to whatever they touch. They also appear as bumps on the bottom areas of the sculpture. Prevent them by moving around in the liquid until it becomes too thick for the bubbles to float through any longer.

3. Cast Bubbles are mixed into the ArtCast™ or other casting media. They float up inside the liquid and appear as holes on the top areas of the sculpture. They are prevented by the correct soaking of the ArtCast™ and correct blending of all media as well as by the Gravity Cast technique as described below.

How To Do Basic Gravity Casting:

This sculpture technique is as ancient as mold making itself. It has only two rules:

1. Gravity pulls only straight down. This controls where the liquids can go.

2. Air moves only straight up. This governs what must be done to eliminate air bubbles, pools and traps in all molding and casting mediums.

•, Air rises until it hits something (like the inside of a horizontal part of the mold) and sticks.

•, If areas of your mold are not straight up and down, make your first pour only about half full.

•, Tilt, tap & jiggle the mold while rotating it. This will get the casting medium into the angles and push the air out of high areas.

•, Then fill the remainder and repeat. Finish by tapping the matrix all around with your knuckles.

Air Traps and Air Paths:

Air Traps:

These occur when a body part bends up from a lower point in the mold and are much more serious than air bubbles.

As cement is poured it cannot 'push' the air out of the mold to fill these high points (blue areas in left illustration). This results in 'missing' parts from the sculpture.

To Avoid Air Traps:

Keep fingers fairly straight, positioning so that the fingertips are near the lowest point in the mold.

If not too high they can also be filled with the correct Gravity Cast technique.

Air Path Example 1:

Air paths allow the trapped air to escape. Here are two ways to make air paths.

1. Close the fingers so they touch each other or make tight fists so the air in the fingertips can escape back through the wrist area.

Air Path Example 2:

Another method of eliminating air traps when using two or more models:

2. Holding hands as shown so the fingertips of one hand will touch the back of the other. The air from those upturned fingertips can escape through the wrist of the second hand.