Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-08-08
AMATEUR sCULPTORs
THEY NEED COOL HEADS AND FIRST
CLASS PLASTER.

Be Made IL the Beginner I.ns IL Lit
tie In,se,Uity and ratiencc--Eust of
the Eaby'n Hand.
Few people realize the pleasure and
making plaster casts. 1t is inexpensive,
aud the utensils required are found in
every household. y cast of the baby's
chubby hand or foot or, in fact, II cast
of any kind is not only Il delight, but
an ornament. The great secret in MAX
ing successful plaster casts lies in not
getting excited. Care slloiila bc used
plaster of PARIS and that it he bought
from some shop where it is sure to be
fresh, as that which is obtained from
81 drug store is apt to be stale and will
not set properly.
y fcw quarts of plaster should be
sufficient for Il first attempt. g. bucket
OF water, Il tin basin, Il tin spoon, some
oil or soapsuds and. if possible. some
common modelling clay aud bottle of
ink are all the materials required. n
mold is first taken OF the object, and
when this is filled it gives the cast.
There arc two kinds of casts-thosc
where only part Of the object is shown,
the other part resting on tile or
plaque, and those that show tho whole
object or arc in the round" 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 be we'll to start
with that. Place sheet of paper on
table and then grease the hand thor
oughly with the oil or thick soups,lds
to prevent the plaster from sticking to
tho skin when removing the mold.
When the hand is placed in the posi-
tion wanted, ill the spaces underneath
it, where it docs not touch the table.
with clay, or il 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 in the basin and pour the
plaster into 1t, stir quietly and keep the
spoon under water to avoid making
bubbles. Use enough plaster to make
1t the consistency of batter. If a 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 amy 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 Il few minutes for 1T to set
and is ready to lift OFF when it can be
scratched with knife. 1t is easier to
turn the hand anl. mold up and lift
the hand ont than to take the mold off
the hand. If amy 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 bc
allowed to dry Il few hours and then he
filled with white plaster, the same con.
slstency 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
Il knife. The mold. being Of Il different
color, can be readily distinguished from
the east.
ln making" the mold for a cast in the
round. after the hand has been oiled.
sink 1T to about half an inch in a bed
OF plaster. l"nving about half an inch
for thickness. Make the rim smooth
and. when hardened. oil Now cover
the upper Ealf with plaster. When set,
this SHOULD l;lock apart easily and the
!;;nd hc lifted out
Another w.y. but Il i..cre difficult
one. after putting the hand half way
In the plaster and before this has dried.
l.; to put Il thin strong strin. around all
the edges Of the fingers letting the
cEds core out ut the wrists, When
the hand is entirely covered With plas-
ter and before it has hardened, pun the
string out. which cuts it in two. The
manner OF iill!ng both these kinds of
molds is the same. OIL and tic the two
halves tightly together and fill with
plaster, let harden and lift the molds
oil.
Only ore cast can he made from
molds like these. at shops where plas-
ter casts are made and sold and
number of the same casts are wanted
Il gelatin mold is made. Being elastic.
1T is easily pulled off without harm to
the cast and still retains it's Shape and
can be filled any number of times. The
yellow or ivory finish that is Given to
many casts is obtained by using white
shellac, which can lie had already
mixed from a paintshop. BY adding
oil paint any desired color can be OBJ
tanned. Rubbing with Il cloth gives
high polish. A bronze finish can be
given by coating With mixture OF
white WAX dissolved in turpentinc, to
which bronze or green paint has been
added
A fine set OF casts. which would IN
terest children and could be used In thp
schoolroom. could be easily made, such
as 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-
ing.
An Reception.
A little gisl read composition be-
fore the minister. The subject was IA
Cow" She wove In this compliments