DIY Life Casting

Once upon a time, at a job I didn't much care for, I was rummaging around on the web, and came across something I'd been thinking about doing for a while: life casting. The original idea was that if I could make a good cast of a face, I could perhaps learn to sketch properly. I looked around a bit more, bought a cheap surplus vacuum pump, some alginate and some plaster, and I was off.

This is intended to be a guide to both the reader and to myself. I want to help you avoid some of the mistakes I made, and I also want to keep a record for my own benefit. This site is organized in chronological order, rather than by material or technique. Perhaps when there's enough content here to warrant it, I'll add an index...

My eventual goal is to get good enough to make it worth trying to cast in a high-clarity, high-durability plastic resin. I've seen some really stunning artworks in the $5,000-$10,000 range, and I would quite like to be able to get at least close to the level of quality those present.

A scan of sculpture that I eventually want to be good enough to emulate
Cast your own hand A brief explanation, with pictures, on how to do your own hand.
The whole process, as explained to someone who sent me mail wanting to know how to cast her own pregnancy.
FAQ
Beginning Experiments
Effect of running water on plaster
Odd / interesting casts
Finish Experiments
Airbrushed Finishes
DIY Vacuum Chamber
Making a Silicone Skin Mold and Mother Mold

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