Pouring plaster moulds for carving

While waiting for fiber fabrics that I plan on experimenting with to arrive, I wanted to make something. George Greenough’s surfboard fin innovations led me to look into biomimicry and I plan on using the fiber fabrics to make different types of surfboard fins based off of different fish. While looking for photos of fish, I stumbled across Macro Photographs of coral. The colours (which could be due to photo editing), the shape, and the texture of the coral really intrigued me. The coral reminded me of Dion Agius’ “Noids” made from old surfboards and Ken Price’s ceramic sculptures. So I began thinking of ways to start carving soft/organic forms and my research led me to plaster carving.

I liked the idea of carving forms in a reductive/subtractive method because if you think about surfboard shaping, it is essentially the same thing. When shaping a surfboard, you are taking a block of wood or foam and carving the shape into the board. Unlike Price’s ceramic sculptures, you’re taking away material rather than adding material.

After collecting plaster of paris from 4D Modelshop, saving a yogurt and olive oil container, and researching how to mix plaster for carving; I mixed my first batch of plaster.

I sat outside of my flat for ventilation, plus it was a nice day anyways so being outside felt fitting. I started by pouring water into the containers I would be using as moulds to measure roughly how much water I would need. This was a good method to begin the mixing process. I then poured the water from both containers into a bigger mixing bowl and slowly started adding the plaster. I made sure to evenly coat the plaster throughout the entire container and sifted the powder through my fingers as I was spreading it. Looking back, I think I spent too long spreading the plaster into the water. When I poured the mix into the first mould, things went smoothly. However, when I poured the second mould, most of the plaster was already setting and wasn’t viscous enough to fill the mould. I tried to save it by adding water and mixing.

It’s been two days since I poured the moulds and the first mould worked out fairly well. There are a lot of air bubbles throughout the cast but I actually kind of like the textured effect of the air bubbles. The second mould is slowly hardening and I am going to let it sit for a few more days, however I think the second mould can be deemed unsuccessful.

Lessons learned: spread and mix the plaster faster when pouring multiple moulds.

Photos:

Acropora Secale by Daniel Stoupin (Macro-Photograph)

Dion Agius “Noid”

Ken Price “Inez”

Mixing plaster

Moulds poured and setting

Texture of the top of the first mould. I just liked the texture

First mould successful