Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-06-26
AMATEUR SCULPTORS
THEY NEED COOL HEADS AND FIRST
CLASS PLASTER.

Tue 0aUy'o n01Os
Few people realize the pleasure and
instruction that can he gained from
making plaster casts. 1t Is inexpensive,
and the utensils required are found In
every household. A cast Of the baby's
chubby hand or foot or, In fact, q cast
Of any kind is not only delight, but
nm ornament. The great secret in max
ing successful plaster casts lies In not
getting excited. Care should be used
when getting the plaster that 1t be
plaster Of paris and that 1t be bought
from some shop where it is sure to be
fresh as that which is obtained from
q drug store is apt to be stale and win
not set properly.
A few quarts of plaster should be
sufficient for first attempt. A bucket
of water, tin basin, tin spoon, some
oil or sonpsuds and, If possible, some
common modelling clay and bottle Of
ink are al! the materials required. A
mold is first taken of the object, and
when this is filed it gives the cast.
There are two kinds of casts-thOse
where only part Of the object is shown,
the other part resting on tile or
plaque, and those that show the whole
object or are in the Ground" The hand
Is about as simple an object as Can be
found and Is more interesting than
most things. AS the hand on the tile
Is the easiest, it would he we'll to start
with that. Place a sheet Of paper on
q table and then grease the hand thor.
Oughly with the oil or thick soapsuds
to prevent the plaster from sticking to
the skin when removing the mold.
When the hand is placed in the posi-
ton wanted, ill the spaces underneath
1t, where it does not touch the table,
with clay, or if clay cannot be obtained
use putty. 1t Is convenient to make a
small wall of clay-around the object to
prevent the plaster from running, but
it is not necessary. Put about quart
of cold water i'm the basin and pour the
plaster into it, stir quietly and keep the
spoon under water to avoid making
bubbles. Use enough plaster to make
it the consistency of batter If little
salt is added or hot water instead of
cold is used, the plaster will harden or
set more quickly. A small quantity Of
ink or any cOloring matter will make it
easier to distinguish the mold from the
east and will also make it more brittle
or rotten and easier to separate the
two. Pour the plaster over the hand,
taking care that there are no bubbles,
until it is about half an inch thick. 1t
will require few minutes for it to set
and is ready to lift off when 1t can be
scratched with knife. 1t is easier to
turn the hand and mold up and lift
the hand out than to take the mold of
the hand. If any plaster has run under
the fingers, cut it away with dull
knife.
Should the nand not come out easily,
working the fingers separately will Of
ten loosen them. The mold should be
allowed to dry few hours and then be
filed with white plaster, the same con-
sistency as was used for the mold A
wall Of clay about an inch high will
have to lie built around the edge OF the
mold. which when filled gives the tile
for the cast to rest on. Let the Whole
dry and then chip the mold away With
a knife. The mold. being Of a diffe, int
color. can be readily distinguished from
the cast.
In max ing the mold for cast l1 the
round. a tier the hand has been DIED,
sink 1t tn about half an inch in bed
of plaster. leaving about half an :,ch
for thick ness. Make the rim smooth
and. when hardened. Oil. Now cover
the upper half with plaster. When yet,
this should knock apart easily and the
hand be lifted out.
Another way. but more diftlcllt
one. afte.. putting the hand half way
in the plaster and before this has dried.
is to put :. lllin strong string around all
the edges Of the fingers, letting the
ends col:e out at the wrists. When
tire hand is entirely covered with plas-
ter and before it has hardened, pull the
string o"t. which cuts it in two. The
manner ,)t filling both these kinds of
molds Ia the same. Oil and tie the two
halves eighty together and fill with
plaster, let harden and lift the Molds
Off.
Only one cast can be made from
molds like these. At shops where plas-
ter cass are made and sold and a
number of the same casts are wanted
a gelatia mold Is made. Being elastic,
1t Is easily pulled off without harm to
the cast and still retains it's shape and
can be filed any number of times. The
yellow or ivory finish that is given to
many casts is obtained by using white
shellac, which can be had already
mixed from paintshop. BY adding
oil paint any desired color can be Oh
tanned. Rubbing with cloth gives a
high polish. A bronze finish can be
given by coating with mixture Of
white wax dissolved in turpentine, to
which bronze or green paint has been
added.
A fine set of casts, which would in
terest children and could be used in the
schoolroom, could he easily made, such