Finished Works

Completed pieces with elements of molding/casting, representational sculpture, lifecasting, faux finishing, aging/weathering, and maybe a drop of Pure Imagination

Winter Wonder Wetland

Mini re-creation of the wetland that surrounds The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, with fiber optic firefly effect

Made with recycled paper clay, natural materials, and fiber filament; set inside a life-size tree trunk plinth

begin swamp swamp swamp swamp swamp

Process Page Check out the Process page where I explain the fabrication in detail

Little Devil

Sculpted new upper face/horns in Monster Clay over a porcelain doll head given to me by a well-meaning relative “to use for your art things”

Molded using silicone (PlatSil Gel-25) brush-on mold with plaster bandage shell

Little Devil mold positive Little Devil mold negative

Mold used to cast scented paraffin candles, Hydrocal Desk Friends, cold cast steel bookends, and much more

Little Devil in hand black and gold

FaceBox

Finished with clear gloss PVC and mounted in a cigar box with matte black interior

First time molding a face other than mine

glossy white plaster cast of young man's face capturing forehead, temples, and upper lip, set against a matte black background inside a wooden box glossy white plaster cast of young man's face capturing forehead, temples, and upper lip, set against a matte black background close up of glossy white plaster cast of young man's left eye and cheek showing an eyelash trapped in the plaster
Hydrocal life cast of model’s upper face using alginate (Accu-cast Genesis V) mold with plaster bandage shell

Love and Graves

Stylized copper wire and polymer clay rose bush and briar; dried sheet moss ground cover

Wooden railing repurposed from thrifted birdhouse

Love and Graves 1 Love and Graves 2 Love and Graves 3
Grave scene described in the folk song often called ‘Barbara Allen’

Dolly Head Candle

Paraffin candles cast from silicone (PlatSil Gel-25) brush-on mold of un-modified porcelain doll head

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Tiny Taper and The Forgotten Bookshelf

1/12th scale taper candle (cocktail skewer and thread) with holder (polymer clay)

1/12th scale cigar-box bookcase with fabric-covered books

taper taper taper

Process and Material Trials

Perfecting established processes and testing the limits of molding/casting media

Kiss You

Cold copper resin cast and paraffin wax melt from life cast of model’s pursed lips

Finish test of copper powder backed with ArtKast polyurethane resin

Patinated using ArtNouveau “Tiffany Green” cupric sulfate liquid patina

close up of model's lips blowing a kiss while she holds a white plaster cast of her lips in the same pose kiss kiss kiss
First photo: unsealed. Second photo: sealed with ArtNouveau clear Metal Wax

Nearly Smiling

First time including teeth in face life cast

Molded myself first so I’m able to explain the experience and direct future models, and to identify ways to improve model comfort and mold detail capture

Tested whether subtly of “in-between” facial expressions is appropriately conveyed in a static cast

white plaster cast of my lower face and teeth in an awkward, subtle smile the same cast from previous image but with little chunks of pink alginate still stuck in the teeth looking down into the mold at the negative impression of my face and teeth in the light pink alginate; mold shell and mold walls made with white plaster bandage
Hydrocal life cast of my lower face using alginate (Accu-cast Genesis V) mold with plaster bandage shell

Italian Soda Candles

Tested creating bubble patterns by varying paraffin temperatures and mold manipulation during casting

Tested resulting opacity from various amounts of liquid paraffin dye

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Results: Watermelon Soda, Cherry Soda, and Grape Soda

Captured Marble

Molded the model’s hand holding a marble between his fingers, removed the model’s hand leaving the marble inside the mold, then cast into the mold cavity and around the marble

The resulting cast keeps the marble in place but it can still spin

white cast of young man's hand holding a blue marble between his thumb and forefinger white cast of young man's hand holding a blue marble between his thumb and forefinger white cast of young man's hand holding a blue marble between his thumb and forefinger
Hydrocal life cast of model’s hand holding a marble using alginate (Accu-cast Genesis V) mold

Test success shown below

Baby Brain Planter

Tested various cement-to-water ratios and types of agitation during casting

Baby Brain cement
Portland cement planters cast using silicone (PlatSil Gel-25) mold with plaster bandage shell of modified porcelain doll head

d’Hande

Tested detail preservation of horizontal lay-up mold as a material saving alternative to container molds

Compared amount of skin displacement with vertical lay-up molds which tend to weigh down thinner/older/deeply textured skin

upright cast of older man's hand and wrist in raking light with subtly purple-leaning paint bringing out the rough skin texture, deep folds, and ropy veins captured by the mold close up of back of the hand cast looking over the knuckles close up of back of the hand cast showing deep skin wrinkles and and network of protruding veins
Hydrocal life cast of older person’s hand using thin horizontal alginate (Accu-cast Genesis V) lay-up mold

Components for Future Projects

Life casts that have been or will be made incorporated into future projects

FriendFace

Final cast marked for fiber filament placement (color indicates filament size)

cast of model's lower face in a soft, closed-mouth smile, with multicolor felt pen freckles cast of model's lower face in a soft, closed-mouth smile; plaster flash still in the nostrils and a few surface bubbles close up of model lips smiling with closed lips while she holds a white plaster cast of her lower face in the same pose
Hydrocal life cast of model’s lower face using alginate (Accu-cast Genesis V) mold with plaster bandage shell