finishing techniques for your life cast sculpture
Ch3: Page 1 2 3

Chapter 3: Intermediate BODY PARTS™ Projects
Projects For The Adventurous Beginner

• Click any single artifact in the image
for its description.
• Click a tab at the top for all projects
of that difficulty level.
References to "kit" in this section are to
BODY PARTS: Original LifeCast™ Kit.
*Successful Creativity Guarantee™ applies only to the sculpture, not to any applied finishes.
Bracket life castReptile life castHeld crystal life castHeld box life castFoot lamp life castBronzed life castEar & Nose lifecastHeld hands life castTrinket life cast 2Hand vase life cast3 hands life castFlower life castBaseball life castTrinket life castTrinket life cast 3Hand shake life castFoot vase life cast3 Child life castBaby's foot lifecastApparagus life castLong nails life castExit life cast
To fit this adult and 2 children's hands we had to make the can slightly wider and taller (Alternative & Advanced Techniques). This increased the amount of water to fill the can but, because we had more hands in, they also displaced more water.
We needed about 9 cups to cover them all a few inches up the wrist. This is more than the suggested 7–8 cups for the material in a LifeCast™ kit which means some detail will be lost. The ArtFORM™ must also be very well mixed when using high ratios like this so we used colder water (50 degrees F) to give us more working time to get all the lumps out. The mold required about 6 or 8 minutes to set completely.
life cast famlyWith the fixed amount of ArtCAST™ cement in this size kit we knew there was just barely enough. Just to make sure we added 1/4 cup more water than suggested in the instructions. Even so there was just barely enough cement for a tiny base although 3 hands don't typically need one to stand up.
This exit sign was made by cutting the can open along the side and sealing the now, 3/4 open top with duct tape to hold liquid (Alternative & Advanced Techniques).
The entire process was done through the side with only a portion of the pointing hand in the mold since the back would be sanded flat anyway. The mold was made and before mixing the cement we coated a bolt with a little petroleum jelly as lubricant. When the cement was poured in and still liquid, this bolt was embedded in it and allowed to harden inside.
life cast exitWhen fully cured, the bolt, because of the lubricant could be gently unscrewed. This left threads in the sculpture which were then used to mount it to the wooden, vertical base through the back.
Copyright © 1987 through 2007 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.
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