Rockyn,
Here is information about the face casting that you want to do. There are several before and after pics of the process and the 'clay' master that I made from the plaster cast. You will need to use the arrow keys to get to the next picture or go to the main album to do a quick overview. To use the plaster mold as you are describing I would then make a silicone or latex mold of the clay master as has been explained in other casts. It is too difficult to cast concrete/tufa mixes into a plaster face mask as there are a couple of undercuts that would not allow a smooth release.
You could also use a plastic face mask as has been done here a couple times and fashion it to look more like your kiddo.
Happy casting,
Dena

Here is a link that might be useful: plaster casting mom's face behind the fence

Dena,

thanks for the reminder about making a flexible mold. Big DUH on my part for forgetting.

Unfortunately, the webshots link says I have to be a member to peek at the album.

whoops it has been a while since I have posted. Here is the 'community photo' link

Here is a link that might be useful: plaster casting mom's face behind the fence

Dena, as always, your creations are astounding.

I didn't realize the extent of your clay creations -love the tiles, especially the fiddlehead fern. Are you planning to tile an area of your home with them?

Thanks for access to the pics and for new ideas!

Im so glad someone else is gonna do this....I have been wanting to but have been stumped on one part. I have the plaster wrap to do the faces. When that is done i will have a negative form. What do i use to make a positive so that i can create a latex mold for repeated use?

carey

Carey,
When I did my mom's face, I sealed the plaster 'negative' with shellac, then cast concrete into it. I broke a portion of the mold, because there are undercuts that you may not realize, in her case the chin had a slight undercut. I still have the original plaster negative of my mom's face minus a portion, but a clay 'master' could definitely be used to create either a latex or silicone master with a mother mold to hold everything in place when you cast in concrete/tufa mix. I have used the plaster negatives of my mom's face and mine to create clay positives. The clay I used probably has some sulfur in it so it would not be useable to make a silicone mold of (sulfur and silicone do not interact well). However it I used a different clay I could make a silicone skin of the positive, and while the 'silicone or latex' was still on the clay positive I could add a plaster backing to serve as a mother mold. The process for making a mother mold is a little more than described above, but not much and makes a long lasting durable mold.
For those who are not familiar with a mother mold; once your silicone or latex is on your original you then remove the form from your original and then place it back onto the original, then create a plaster mold over the whole form (plastering over the latex or silicone), the 'mother mold' cradles the original latex/silcone mold).
happy casting,
Dena

Thanks dena. I will probly try to use clay for the master to make a mold out of. I figure theyre will be alot of imperfections with the original casting and would like to smooth them out before i make a mold.

I really want to get it right the first time cause i dont think my kids will cooperate a second time....lol

Carey

The pie dough as a face mold experiment didn't go nearly well enough.

Who uses a lifecast material that is fairly reliable and somewhat inexpensive?

Im going to try rigid wrap plaster cloth. I wanted to do it tonight but we got home to late. Definitly tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes,

carey

Carey,
These masks were made with my son's and daughter's 5th grade class.
They are with the rigid wrap. Vaseline was used on the kids faces. You can go closer to the nose and mouth than what is represented here. With the classes there was only so much time and there were a few of the kids not all that sure about getting plastered.
The designs that the kids painted on after are so interesting. The masks were sealed with a poly urethane spray. We have ours displayed going on 5years now......Lasts a Long time.
I understand that you want to make a positive cast of the face after and you should definitely be able to do that, however anywhere that there is an opening you will need to tape that shut even a little masking tape will work.
I hope you can share pictures of your project.
Have fun getting plastered and happy casting,
Dena

Here is a link that might be useful: rigid plaster faces behind the fence

I did it!!!!! the molds are rough on the insides but i figured that would happen. Thats why i want to make a clay positive to make a mold out of. What kind of clay works best?

Will post pics as soon as i get with one of those sites

carey

ok, here is a pic of my daughter in the platercast. As soon as i find a good clay to make a positive i will make a mold....first time doin pics so here it goes.....

carey

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f215/brighteyedbrat/crete/146-4629_IMG.jpg

Carey,

You did an AWESOME job of doing the plaster mask!!!!!
I am offering information to assist you in being successful;
Dependent on what you are going to end up making your final mold from, e.g rubber, silicone...make sure your clay that you choose to make your positive from is compatible with the mold material.
1) let the plaster dry for a day or two
2) BE SURE to seal at the very least the outside of the mask, your sealer may not stick on the inside dependent on what you used to insure you daughter's face not sticking
3) I have used pottery clay, look at Michaels, a pottery store, as at your daughter's school. There are clays that are 'sulphur' free and will be more compatible with your final mold material
4)Take a look at the inside of the mask, is there anything sticking out, are there ANY undercuts, are there any areas that are going to 'hold fast' to the clay. The bumps on the nose are the likely areas, also where the chin curves under to the neck. Mark the outside of the mask at those points to remind you later
5) To use the pottery clay roll out a fairly thick slab and gently but firmly press it into the mask. Besure to tape off the nose area. Then press it evenly all over again, add additional clay on to thin areas.
6) using a low setting of a hair dryer dry the inside so it becomes almost leather hard.(you are only drying to touch, not for good) Some edges of the clay should have shrunk/pulled away.
7)gently pull the clay positive out of the mask and stuff the void with wadded newspaper, just to hold the shape, cuz the clay is not dry.
8)The longer you let the clay dry the smaller your daughter's face will become since potters clay does shrink slightly.
9)Check your plaster mask after the first clay is taken out, you may be able to seal the inside now as the clay may have taken away most of what ever the release was.
Happy casting,
Dena

thank you Dena.... I will be working on the positive very soon. I want to use their face for the center of a "flower" To give to family. I figure its a good way to capture them at this age, cause they are growin up so fast. I am gonna try the non drying modeling clay and see how that works. Wish me luck.....

carey

the way they make a cast in holly wood of the face is to put straws in the niose fo that the person can breath, you put a thin layer of vasiline over the skin and get the hair good and greasy with it. you cover the face with a latex molding material that you can buy at michales it sets pretty fast. it pulls of with no problems. i would then make a postive out of this, maybe with wax so you can keep alot of the detail( rememer with the vasiline the more youput on the less detail you will get. i would then shape the container to the back of the face and make another mold of the whole thing the cast my container from that... but im new at this so im not sure that would work. but thats how you would make a life like face mold..... later days parker

Here's another way to skin that cat if, like me, you're too lazy and would
rather make many molds and use them only once.

The mold is made much as described by Dena. We found that straws, etc. in the
nostrils were distorting and no easier (or more uncomfortable) than
carefully smoothing the plaster gauze into the nostrils about 1/4".
These little tubes were later plugged. I made similar recesses for
the eyes, which were left uncovered by the mask.

These masks had several under-cuts. Although sealed on the inside
the masks were damp and flexible enough to peel off after a day or so.
The concrete was poured into the (plugged) mask, all of it supported
in a box with sand. The picture shows the box, the unmolded face and a hinged box
we built to form the block with the face on it, all one pour.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Linnea,
Very cool.
I attempted to send you an e-mail about another project you are undertaking and would really like to write to you.
Could you please send me an e-mail.
Thank you,
Dena

Dena, thanks, I sent you an email.

To correct above: it's NOT more uncomfortable for the victim
if you don't use nose-straws, but just smooth the plaster into
the nostrils. We found a small sculpting tool perfect.

Another lesson learned, for those who plan to do face molds: If your friend
(victim)
wears glasses, INCLUDE THEM, most people who wear glasses become
unrecognizeable without them.
You do, of course, have to grease up the glasses and be careful
not to undercut HERE, or you may have to destroy either the glasses
or the mask.

I'll eventually re-make the ones we did without the glasses.

Gee, you guys are so inspiring! I really appreciate the sharing of your ideas. The pictures are so helpful.

Linnea, is that part of a tower in your garden? Too cool! How do find time to take care of the garden, run a business and be so productively creative? I feel like such a slug compared to you & Dena.

I agree tof!
I'm new to the garden arts so I really appreciate the wonderful instructions and pictures.
Thank-you
Debbie

linnea,
I just re read your post, did you use the plaster (negative) cast as the mold for the positives that are in the photo?
Dena

Dena, yes, the POP straight off the person.