Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-01-01
FlNIsuINu A HEAD.

As II Ia not desirable to make tho
heads and hands Of such pale material,
the artist colors II TO SUIT his needs. For
u head and face no mixes In tho wax
when melted certain quantities OF dry
colors. These colors are Prusslan blue,
crimson lake and silver white. When
the WAX Is meant for heads requiring n
more sombre tint or for tho hands OF
males, some burnt amber Is added.
II Is necessary TO Insure good wax
mould to have on almost exact tcmpera'
ture In the wax and tho heated plaster
mould Experience has taught tho
artist tho proper time to take out his
plaster. and when 1t Is just hot enough
IL Ia oiled TO prevent tho wax from stick
Ing and stood on It's head on the stone
floor.
A largo funnel Is now placed In tho
opening at the neck aud tho wax IL
poured into the funnel. tho lower end OF
which Is as far down IN the mold as IL
will go. When the amount OF wax
needed to oil tho whole space has been
poured In, tho funnel is pulled out slow
ly aud the wax Is distributed gradually.
IL tho wax Is poured directly into the
mould from the large tin vessel In which
II is melted bubbles are apt to form In
places where they may mar tho surface
OF the head.
After fifteen minutes time has partial
ly hardened tho wax nearest the mould.
the soft wax in the centre Is poured
back into tho tin. In the fifteen min.
utes allowed for cooling, the WAX left In
the mould when the soft portion Is
poured out Is about one quarter OF an
inch In thickness, although IL may vary
sixteenth In some places. Such vnria-
ton Is not objected TO. as It serves 10
give transparency 10 the head.
Very often when the mould Is un.
wrapped OF the strong ropes which hold
II together during the pouring. aud taken
apart, the wax 10 found TO have stuck
fast TO some part of the plaster not fully
oiled. This necessitates the operation
being done all over again.
Tho day following the melting the
head is ready for its final shaping.
Though 1t Is now perfected ns regards
the general features, there are many
roughnesses apparent, especially along
the lines where the plaster mould had It's
Jennings. These lines and any little
Jumps that may have been caused by
small holes in the plaster are carefully
shaved down. The eyes OF the wnxen
head are simply rounded reproductions
OF the eyeball and the mouth Is general
ly partially open, with no modcllings OF
the teeth. When the wax is rs hard rs
II can be made by the atmosphere n
crooked tool with a round end Is heated
and the eyes are burned out from tho
inside OF the hollow head. The back
wall of tho open mouth IL similarly
treated, and the head Is now ready for
the accessories. The rims OF the eye
have to be painted and other parts Of the
face made deeper or lighter In colcr.
One OF the most artistic operations Ia
,he reproduction OF the color OF the
k1man lip. This effect is not made with
paints, but is obtained by the skilful
laying on Of colored wax A spatula, a
small modelling tool. Is heated in an
alcohol flame and pressed into cake OF
wax of the proper color. This while
hot Is distributed along the Two lips
thinly. and although 1t gets lighter in
color when hot IL dries or hnr1ens to
Just the desired tint. In heads where
tho design calls for uneven teeth the
artist introduces small pieces Of wax and
shapes them to suit the subject. Ordin.
nrily the teeth used are the usua! vGric'
" OF false teeth procured from the
dentist supply houses.
Many OF the male heads have to be re
presented IS recently shaver, and the
WORK necessary 10 give The life size face