Which Mold Tutorial?

Steve Cairney

Hi everyone, 2 questions really. I've been schooled to the hilt on latex mask molding and stone molding techniques for full face and head sculpts but which course would illustrate how to the mold something that was only sculpted on a section of the head form, like the attached, (not my work)

Would the process be the same as a regular two part mold as seen in
https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/character-creation-stone-mold-making-tutorial
https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/how-to-make-a-latex-rubber-mask-2-mold-making but with left and right mold rather than a front and back?

Also, since shipping has gone to hell with the almost world wide lockdown in place, and because I sculpt in WED, would now not be the best time to start a sculpt that might not be able to be cast for a month, if not longer?

Thanks all!

Chris Ellerby

Hi Steve,

One of our lessons that may help with molding a partial mask like your example would be https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/character-makeup-sculpture-breakdown-mold-making as it covers mold making for prosthetics, which is very similar.

You are correct about WED clay not being super easy to keep a sculpture going for an extended period of time.  That said, it can be done, but it's a fair bit of work and there are some risks.  If the sculpture is stored with damp (not soaking wet) paper towels covering it and covered by a sealed garbage bag it should retain its moisture for a bit.  You can check on it every few days and re-apply moist paper towels as needed.  You just need to maintain the right balance of moisture so it does not dry out and crack, but not so much that it starts to turn into a soggy mess.  Eventually the damp environment may promote mold growth, which is not ideal, so you may not want to keep that process going too long.  Personally if waiting to start the sculpt were an option I might opt for that, since there are fewer things that could go wrong.  As you get more comfortable with WED clay you'll get a better feel for how long you can keep a sculpt "alive".

Hope that helps!

/Chris

Steve Cairney

Thanks Chris, that was one I was considering so I think we're on the same page. I'll give that a good watch, maybe Rob Freytas' matrix tutorial would be good too on a rewatch.

Should have bought that stone when I had the chance last month, still I guess that's a first world.problem right now  

Stay well!