Portrait of Theodora – from clay original to plaster cast
- Process
Making the mould
Constructing the clay wall (above).
Flick and blow on the first layer of plaster (above).
The front ‘mother’ mould completed (above).
The mould completed and ready for removal of the clay original (above).
Carefully easing the pieces apart (above).
When the mould is removed much of the clay original may be lost (above).
Casting
Once the mould has been cleaned, sealed and securely strapped together casting can begin.
Fresh plaster is mixed up then poured into the mould, agitating or blowing into the detail.
This is a critical stage. The clay original is now preserved in negative by the mould. Every nuance of the original must be faithfully transferred from the mould to the cast to reproduced the piece in plaster.
The process is repeated until an even layer about 20mm thick covers the inside of the mould.
Chipping away the mould (above).
The cast is ready to clean up (above).
Theodora – the finished plaster (above).
