Casting figures from plaster

What you need:

• plaster
• Figure templates
• Plaster bandages
• water
• Disposable gloves
• scissors
• Bowl and stir stick
• Newsprint
• large garbage bags
• vaseline
• liquid latex or silicone
• a wooden box or wood for a frame
• Plaster cup
• thin stick

Casting with plaster of paris

Molding is a common practice in sculpture. A sculpture is usually not created immediately from plaster of paris or metal. For example, the sculptor works out a sculpture wood and then wants to duplicate it. This requires a mold for casting the reproductions.

1. First, find one or more figures that you would like to cast out of plaster.
2. Then you build a dense form from a wooden box or some pieces of wood, from which liquid latex or silicone cannot flow out. This shape must be larger in length, width and height than the figure you want to cast.
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3. First, grease the figures with petroleum jelly that you want to pour in plaster of paris.
4. Spread out the garbage bags as a base. Then pour a first layer (approx. 1 - 2 cm) of the liquid latex or silicone in the mold and let it dry. It should have a light strength, but still be malleable.


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5. Now place your figure in the mold and gently press into it. Add the wooden stick and push it from a thick part of the figure to the edge. It is recommended to choose one of the shorter routes.
6. Half of the figure shapes are made. Therefore, pour the liquid latex or silicone up to half of the figure into your mold. Let the material harden.
7. Once the bottom half of the silicone mold is solid, pour the rest of your mold out with silicone (or latex). There must be a layer of 1 - 2 cm above the figure. The taller your figure, the thicker the mass that surrounds it should be. This stabilizes your later plaster mold.
8. Let the material harden completely and then detach the wooden form from the silicone / latex. You can now pull the two halves apart and take your figure template as well as the.
9. Then put the two halves back on top of each other and wrap them tightly in garbage bags so that no plaster can ooze out of the interface. You can also seal the interface with some silicone. In any case, leave the spot where the wooden stick was lying free.
10. You can now put your plaster of paris, mixed with water, into the firmly closed mold through the opening that the wooden stick has created. Then you have to wait for the plaster of paris to harden.
11. Then loosen the form and carefully pull it off your plaster figure. This is usually very easy. If you want to be absolutely sure that the mold comes off easily, then coat the inside with petroleum jelly before sealing.

Cast body parts from plaster of paris

Would you like to have a plaster sculpture of your hand or foot? No problem if you work with plaster bandages and plaster powder according to these instructions. Cut the napkins into pieces that are easy to wrap.

1. Take an old newspaper as a pad and a bowl of water.
2. Dip the plaster bandages in the water.
3. While the pads are soaking, coat your hand or foot with a thick layer of petroleum jelly. An alternative would be penate cream.
4. Wrap the body part with the plaster bandages. When swaddling, keep in mind that you have to be able to slip out of the plaster mold again. The more complicated you make the hand or foot posture, the more difficult it will be to remove the plaster cast in one piece.
5. Let the bandage dry. When it is so tight on the inside that you can no longer bend it, then the bandage is ready.
6. You need the plaster mold in one piece so that you can then cast the sculpture. If you have trouble pulling your hand or foot out, use scissors to cut a piece of the bandage and pull your hand out.
7. Now check the shape for any leaks and mend it with more wet bandages. You can also close the interface in this way. Then the form has to dry completely again.
8. Build yourself a structure in which your hand or foot shape stands securely so that the opening is on top. For example, a bucket with dry sand or gravel in which you embed the mold is suitable.
9. Mix the plaster powder with a little water in a plaster beaker. The mixture must still pour well. It shouldn't have too much water, as this will extend the drying time - and the plaster cast will soak too much again.
10. Pour the plaster of paris into your mold until it is almost filled and let the sculpture dry. Depending on the size, the drying time can take up to a day and a half.
11. Finally, use scissors to cut open the bandage and carefully pull it off the mold. The better you have creamed your hand beforehand, the easier it is to pull out the shape. Remove the remnants of the petroleum jelly and sand the sculpture again if necessary.

Have fun!