Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-07-11
AMATEUR SCULPTORS
THEY NEED COOL HEADS AND FIRST
GLASS PLASTER.


Few people realize the pleasure and
| instruction that can be gained from
making plaster casts. 1t is inexpensive,
and the utensils required are found in
every household. y cast of the baby's
chubby hand or foot OF, in fact, cast
of any kind is not only a delight, but
an ornament. The great secret in MAX
ing successful plaster casts lies in not
getting excited Care should he used
| when getting the plaster that it be
plaster of paris and that it be bought
from some si0p where it is sure to be
! fresh, as that which is obtained from
a drug store is apt to be stale and will
not set properly.
/ \ few quarts Of plaster should be
sufficient for a first attempt. y bucket
of water, tin basin, tin spoon, some
oil or soapsuds and, if possible, some
common modelling clay and bottle of
ink are ali the materials required. \
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 round" The hand
is about as simple an object as can be
| found and is more interesting than
| most thin~s. As the hand on the tile
| is the easiest, it would be we'll to start
with that. Place Il sheet of paper on
| n table and then grease the hand thor
oushly 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, fill the spaces underneath
it, where it does not touch the table,
with clay, or if clay cannot be obtained
use putty. II is convenient to make
small wall of clay around the object to
prevent the plaster from running. but
1t is not necessary. Put about Il quart
of cold water in 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 Il little
salt is added or hot water instead of
cold is used, the plaster Will harden or
set more quickly. y small quantity of
ink or any colOring matter will make it
easier to distinguish the mold from the
cast 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 q few minutes for it to set
and is ready to lift off when it 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 off
the hand. If any plaster has run under
the fingers, cut it away with dull
knife.
Should the hand not come out easily,
working the fingers separately will Of
ten loosen them. The mold should be
allowed 10 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 be 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 different
color, can be readily distinguished from
the cast.
In making the mold for a cast in the
round. after the hand has been oiled,
sink it to about half an inch in bed
of plaster, leaving about half an inch
for thickness. Make the rim smooth
the upper half with plaster. When set, |
this should knock apart easily and the |
hand be lifted out.
Another way, but more difficult |
one, after putting the hand half way |
in the plaster and before this has dried. |
is to put thin strong string around all |
the edges of the fingers, letting the |
ends come out at the wrists. When |
the hand is entirely covered with plas- |
ter and before it has hardened, pull the |
string out. which cuts it in two. The |
manner of filling both these kinds of /
molds is the same. Oil and tie the two |
halves tightly 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 casts are made and sold aud a
of the same casts are wanted
n gelatin mold is made. Being elastic,
it is easily pulled off without harm TO
the cast and still retains its 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 Il paintshop. BY adding |
oil paint any desired color can be OBJ
tanned. Rubbing with a cloth gives
high polish. 4 bronze finish can be
given by coating with n mixture of
white wax dissolved in turpentine, to
which bronze or green paint has been
added.
A fine set of casts, which would in
-erest children and could be used in the
could be easily made, such
Is fruit or vegetable forms, apples, ba-
nanas, potatoes and corn, or simple
animal forms, such as frogs, fish. ETC.;
also models that one has made and
wishes to preserve.-Good Housekeep-
ng.
An Exception.
4 little girl read composition be- |