The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-04-14
AMATEUR SCULPTORS.
THEY NEED COOL HEADS AND
 FIRST T-CLASS PLASTER.
How Ornaments for the Home Gnu be Made If the Beginner Has Little ln- genuity and Patlence-Cnst of the Bnby's Hand.

 $ Bnby's Hand.
 Few people realize the pleasure ant instruction that can be gained iron
 making plaster casts. It Is inexpensive
 and the utensils required are found il
 every household. A cast of the baby's
 chubby hand or foot or, in fact cast
 of any kind is not noly delight, but ar ornament The great secret in making
 successful plaster casts lies in not get
 ting excited. Care should be used in
 getting the plaster that it be plaster of
 paris and that it be bought from some
 shop where it is sure to be fresh as
 that which is obtained from drug
 store is apt to be stale and will not set
 properly.
 A few quarts of plaster should be
 sufficient for first attempt. A bucket
 of water, tin basin a tin spoon, some
 oil or soapsuds and, if possible, some
 common modelling clay and a bottle of
 ink are all the materials required A
 mold is first taken of the object, and
 when this is filled 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 of
 plaque, and those that show the whole
 object or are in the round The hand
 is about as simple an object as can be 1 found and is more interesting than most things As the hand on the tile is
 the easiest, it would be well to start | with that. Place a sheet of paper on
 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 mould, 1 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 a small wall of clay around the object to prevent the plaster from running, but it Is not necessary. Put about a 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 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 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. It will require a few minutes for it to set and is ready to lift off when it can be scratched with knife. It 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 to dry few hours and then be filled 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 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 and, | when hardened, oil. Now cover the up- per 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 plaster and before it has hardened, pull the string out which cuts it in two, The 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 and num- Der of the same casts are wanted gel atin mold is made. Being elastic, it is easily pulled off without harm to the last and still retains it's shape and can De filled any number of times The vel low or ivory finish that is given to many casts is obtained by using white shellac, which can be had already mixed from paint-shop. By adding )il paint any desired color can be ob- aimed. Rubbing with a cloth gives a nigh polish A bronze finish can be given by coating with a mixture of white wax dissolved in turpentine, to which bronze or green paint has been tdded.
 A fine set of casts which would in- crest children and could be used in the chool-room could be easily made such ! ls fruit or vegetable forms. apples, ba- lanas, potatoes and corn, or simple an- mal forms, such as frogs, fish, etc; also models that one has made and wishes O preserve. Good Housekeeping.