finishing techniques for your life cast sculpture
Ch5: Page 1 2

Chapter 5: Other Lifecasting Ideas
Additional Finishing Possibilities.

• 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
Artificial or "faux" finishes are ones that make a LifeCast™ resemble other materials, like natural stone for example.
It was a very popular skill during many opulent eras of history such as the notorious royal courts of France when sublime Baroque distorted into excessive Rococo. These skills are experiencing a revival of interest today.
We have discussed a few on the previous pages but, its such an interesting craft that it deserves more exploration. Indeed, many professional artists work at providing faux finishes for interior decorators, theatrical and motion picture special effects (f/x).
We offer a wide variety of finishing services for those who need it. Please refer to the Sculpture Services section of lifecast.net.

Commercially Available Finishes:
Do-it-yourself finishing kits have become too numerous to list here. Browse through your local art materials shop or any of the arts & crafts chain stores. You will find sprays and paints that simulate many kinds of stone, leathers such as suede, ceramic glazes, even some that fluff up like fur upon heating with a hair dryer!
In addition to the prepared finishes there are myriad special tools, brushes and other items for the faux artist to trick the eye into belief. Play around by applying paints with sponges, feathers, rubber stamps, leaves, carpet scraps and so on. Sometimes the effects are surprising. Always practice on some paper or scraps of cardboard until you get an effect you like before using it on your LifeCast™.
Antiqued:
This is the best way to emphasize its remarkable detail. Begin with a thin base coat of a flesh tone. These can be mixed if you are a good colorist or purchased in the rainbow of human skin tones. After this has dried, lightly coat it with some clear sealer.
White Space:
When that has dried, brush on a darker, contrasting color in small areas and wipe it back off with a soft cloth. The darker color remains only in the cracks and fingerprints, bringing them into startling contrast. Finish up with another coat of sealer.
Electroplated:
This process deposits a thin coating of actual metal particles on the surface of the LifeCast™. Basically this is how it is done.
1. The surface is coated with an electrically conductive medium
2. It is then submerged into an acidic solution that contains the dissolved metal of choice (i.e.; copper, gold, silver, nickel, etc.)
3. The object is connected to a positive electrode while the solution is negatively charged.
White Space:
4. When activated the object attracts the metal particles which coat the surface evenly, creating an artifact that appears to be made of that metal.
Some of the more fine details of a LifeCast™ are lost in this process but others are drawn out in beautiful relief. Electroplating can be done on many different substrates including the ArtCast™ which is included in our kits.
Fine Art (Hot Poured) Metals:
Of course the best way of creating a truly fine, artifact that will endure the generations is to work in the actual metal by various foundry methods. There is nothing more arresting and durable than a LifeCast™ which duplicates each fingerprint or nuance of facial expression in rich, lustrous bronze.
White Space:
We can provide instruction in the best way to prepare a LifeCast™ for "lost wax" bronze casting then pour the metal for you economically. Our foundry services are also available through the Sculpture Services section.
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.
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.
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