The first step is to dismantle the wax so that the mould will come apart easily in two halves.
So..... off with his arms!
By removing them and casting the waxes separately the detail can be carefully preserved. Reassembling them is easier than struggling with a mould with difficult and complicated seam lines.
Now the clay is built up around the back to make a platform and define the clay blanket which in will turn become the part that will be rubber.
The plaster is applied to form the holding or "mother' mould. This will be used to make the space for and support the inside rubber section of the mould.
Here on the left is the back half of the plaster mother mould and on the right is the back of the model with a pvc pipe to form the pour spout.
This is the mould ready for the pouring of the silicone rubber. It has a honey like viscosity and when the catilyst is added you have about 30 minutes to pour it. When things go wrong at this point it can be a very messy business! Mould making is an art in itself with each one unique and dictated by the shape of the sculpture. Much planning and time goes into it. Experience is an asset. To learn mould making well you have to make every mistake there is to make at least once.
Freshly cracked mould. Now the other half will be cleaned up and prepared for the rubbber.
To get good detail its best to paint in a layer of hot wax.
This is the two halves of the mould with a wax cast in the middle.
This is the finished copy, assembled, cleaned up and ready for the lost wax process to turn it into bronze.
It is now out of my hands and in the foundry going through the highly skilled, laborious and very technical process of being cast in bronze. Its always a strange feeling when you leave a piece at the foundry. It kind of feels like the first time you say goodbye to your child at kindergarten. You hope for the best care and that they will be in good shape when you pick them up.
