How to Make Molds for Plaster Statues

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
A statue mold is a hollow form that is used as a vessel in which to pour plaster and let it set to an intended shape. If you have a statue that you would like to reproduce, you can use your statue to make a mold for plaster reproductions. You do not have to be a sculptor or to have any experience with mold making. Just follow these steps for how to make molds for plaster statues.

Steps

1. Measure your statue. Record its width, height and depth dimensions.
2. Build a box for pouring your mold material around your statue. Keep in mind that you will be laying your statue in the pour box on either its face or its back-never on the top or bottom.
   • Add 6 inches (15 cm) to each of the 3 measurements of your statue to get the appropriate box dimensions for the statue mold.
   • Use a table or hand saw to cut 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) plywood into 4 sides (2 width times depth and 2 height times depth) and a base (width times height).
   • Adjoin the side pieces using a hammer and nails, then attach the base in the same fashion.
   • Use a caulk gun to run a bead of caulk along the box edges, on the inside, where sides meet sides and where the walls meet the base. This will prevent the rubber mold compound from leaking out during the pouring process.
   • Allow the caulk to dry. The pouring box is now ready to make molds.
3. Paint the entire statue with a thin layer of rubber molding compound in preparation to make a mold.
4. Place the statue in the box in its proper orientation. You will need to elevate the underside in order to allow the rubber molding compound to flow underneath the statue during the mold making process.
   • Roll sculptor's clay into finger-width columns. You will use these to prop your statue up off the floor of the pour box. The number of columns depends on how large your statue is and how much it weighs. The less you use, the better.
   • Prop statue up on clay columns, cutting columns at differing lengths as necessary for the statue design. Your goal is to get the statue sitting as level as possible. This will take some fine-tuning.
5. Pour rubber molding compound into the pouring box. Fill the box until the compound reaches halfway up the statue's depth. This is the first part of your 2-part mold.
6. Allow the first half of the rubber statue mold to set completely. Setting time will be listed in the manufacturer's instructions.
7. Prepare to pour the second half of the statue mold.
   • Cut several pyramid-shaped divots in the first half of the mold. This will be where the 2 mold halves meet up for the plaster casting.
   • Paint the first half of the mold with mold release compound to prevent the 2 mold halves from sticking together. You are now ready to make a mold of the other half of the statue.
8. Pour rubber molding compound over the first mold, covering the remainder of the statue and filling the pour box. Allow molding compound to set completely.
9. Pry the sides and the floor of the pouring box apart, exposing the entire 2-part mold.
10. Pull the 2 mold halves apart and remove the original statue. Your statue mold is now ready for use.

Tips

• Experiment with different brands of rubber molding compound. Some may be easier to work with for certain shapes.

Warnings

• Your original statue is likely to get damaged through the mold making process, so be careful about using anything that you cannot risk ruining.

Things You'll Need

• Plywood
• Hand or table saw
• Nails
• Hammer
• Caulk
• Sculptor's clay
• Rubber molding compound
• Paint brush
• Hobby knife
• Mold release compound

Sources and Citations

• http://www.hirstarts.com/moldmake/moldmaking.html

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How to Paint Concrete Statues

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Concrete statues are commonly found as yard ornaments or objects of interior decor. Because concrete is porous, it is important to use a specific process when painting it. Follow these instructions for how to paint concrete statues.

Steps

1. Prepare the statue for painting. Before painting concrete, you must take certain steps to ensure the paint will stick to it:
   • Wash the statue with water, using a garden hose or shower sprayer. Do not use soap.
   • Allow the concrete statue to air dry.
   • Blow any remaining dust or concrete flakes off the statue using a high pressure air hose.
2. Apply a base coat to the entire statue, using either a brush or a sprayer.
   • Use either a latex exterior paint or a paint formulated especially for painting concrete, in a color that is appropriate to the top coat color you will be using.
   • Coat the bottom of the concrete statue with a base coat first. Allow it to dry, then stand the statue up for painting.
   • Allow the base coat to dry, then inspect the statue for full coverage. Concrete is very absorbent, so you may need to apply more than 1 base coat. If you notice that an area seems dull or washed out in comparison to other areas, it is a good idea to apply another base coat.
3. Choose a painting method for the top coat. You may opt to use a paint brush or paint sprayer to coat the statue, or you can choose from other creative paint finish options:
   • Drybrushing involves using base and top coats that are contrasting in nature, and swiping a partially-coated paintbrush over the concrete statue to create a weathered, striation effect. For example, you can use a black base coat for your statue, then dip your paintbrush in white paint, wipe most of the white paint off the brush and swipe the barely-damp paintbrush across your statue for a feathery look.
   • For an antiquing method, use a light or white base coat for concrete statues, then apply the colored top coat, let the paint sit for 10 minutes and wipe away the excess paint using a dampened rag. Apply and wipe away paint as necessary to get the desired effect.
   • Airbrushing is a technique that requires a paint airbrush. It is a learned skill that can create realistic effects for animal statues, and can work with either a dark or light base coat, depending on the subject.
   • Detailing involves using small brushes to create details in the top coat by hand. Concrete statues that are going to be detailed generally work best with white base coats.
4. Paint the top coat. You can either paint concrete statues a solid color, or use a variety of colors for details. Use any type or variety of exterior latex paint and/or concrete paint products found in home improvement and craft stores. Allow the top coat to dry for 24 hours before moving on to the next step in painting concrete.
5. Seal the statue. Use a non-yellowing exterior concrete sealer. This will protect paint colors from fading and keep out harmful moisture. Place the concrete statue on a ventilated surface (gravel or rock will do), and allow the sealer to dry for 24 hours.

Tips

• Always make sure the area where you will be painting concrete is well-ventilated.
• If you cast concrete statues yourself, then you should wait at least 3 days after a statue is released from its mold to paint it.
• For easy accessibility, place the concrete statue on a turntable or other turning surface.
• If you are painting in the hot sun, you may need to thin your paints with water to allow the paint to soak into the concrete before it dries.
• Reseal painted concrete statues every 1 to 3 years to protect the paint job.

Warnings

• Do not seal the bottom of concrete statues, as it is important to let them breathe.

Sources and Citations

• http://www.svjcreativedesigns.com/info/care.php
• http://extremehowto.com/creating-concrete-sculptures/

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How to Make a Wire Tree Sculpture

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Rather than putting a traditional bonsai tree on your desk, try something unique and different. With a little wire, some rocks and a small flower pot, you can create a unique wire tree!

Steps

1. Obtain nine or twelve strands of 24-gauge wire. Decide how high you want your wire tree sculpture to be, then multiply that height by 2.5cm/1 inch (for example, if you want a 30cm/12 inches tree, you need wire that is 75cm/29.5 inches long). 
2. Cut the wire strands equally. Bend them in the middle as if you're going to fold them in half (like a "U" shape). Keeping a loop at the bottom (perhaps make use of your fingers here), twist the two vertical sections together to secure the loop. (This loop will form the roots.)
3. Divide the loop into smaller bunches of wire (maybe two or three strands per new loop). Start twisting these loops individually, then split them off again and continue twisting until it forms a root-like system. You'll be left with mini loops at the end of each root. Using wire cutters, snip these loops to make the ends of the roots.
4. To create the top half of the tree, gently twist the 18 (in case you use 9 wires) or 24 (12 wires) to make a stem. Do this for a few centimeters (inches), until reaching the height where you want to make the lowest branch. At that point, take four strands and separate these from the rest of the bunch. The strands need not be the four strands that were already sitting together––you will get the best result when you take two strands from each side of the bunch.
5. Twist these four strands together to make a branch. Make this twist a few centimeters (inches) long.
6. After twisting a branch for a few centimeters (inches), take two strands apart and twist them again. Twist the other two strands together also. Make sure there's a balanced distance between the height of the first branch, the length of the first branch to the first "split" and the rest of the branch.
7. Continue twisting the stem until the stage where you want to make a second branch.
8. Repeat the process with four strands of wire, etc.
9. Decorate. Add beads or costume gem stones if you like. Place the tree in a pretty plant container or similar item for display.

Video

Tips

• The tree can be made to stand alone or it could be glued to a piece of driftwood or similar piece of spare wood for display.

Things You'll Need

• 24 gauge wire strands, 9 or 12 strands, amount dependent on tree size
• Wire cutter
• Suitable non-scratch surface to work on, such as a craft self-healing cutting mat
• Container suitable for holding or displaying the completed sculpture
• Beads or costume gems for decoration (optional) plus glue to attach

Related wikiHows

• How to Do Ceramic Sculpture
• How to Make a Plaster Mask
• How to Create a Claymation Armature
• How to Solder Wire Sculptures
• How to Create a Packing Tape Sculpture
• How to Sculpt Using Sand and Portland Cement
• How to Make Button Sculptures

Sources and Citations

• http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=135&page=1 – research source

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make a Wire Tree Sculpture. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

For More Information's about the Marble Sculptures please visit Here!