Stephani Stephenson on tue 13 sep 05
Debbie wrote:
First, I want to know how complicated of a mold can one make?
.... I'm talking about sculptures that
have holes, insides, outsides, besides...;)
I tend to do my best job the first time around, and when I attempt to
duplicate something, it just doesn't work right. This may change with
practice, but for the sake of argument, I was curious is there was any
way
to make a mold out of completely complex figures.
Second question is can I soak newspaper in water and then use a regular
blender to mix it and then wedge it into my pre-mixed bag ready clay? I
don't have any fancy mixers or anything, and I don't mind using a drill
if
I have to, but just wondered.
Debbie
Debbie, the first answer is yes, there are ways to make complex molds.
For complex molds, more complex moldmaking skills are required, and a
greater understanding of moldmaking process
especially how to 'read' the piece and know how to divide it up and key
it for molding purposes.
there's literature out there if you want to try and self teach....
complex moldmaking may be taught more in Sculpture departments rather
than ceramics departments
in local colleges and community colleges....
I checked out your website and looked at your work with regard to
moldmaking
what I noticed is that your work has a fresh quality to it which
clearly indicates it is
handmade using very direct forming methods.
while you may find it frustrating that you cannot duplicate each one
readily, you may also find that when you try to
make molds of these figures and reproduce them via slipcasting or
pressing, you will lose some, possibly all of of that quality
It is worth looking at the pieces and deciding whether your direct
forming techniques are actually very essential to
communicating the
best qualities of that work....
In this case, and this is my opinion only, I think these particular
pieces would not translate well as moldmade pieces.
which is not to discourage you from further investigating design and
moldmaking!
You will learn a good deal from the experiment!
PAPER:
generally you can soak newspaper for a day or so, using boiling water
helps...
I usually use paper towels or TP for the small batches I make, as they
break down much easier.
When making pulp from plant fibers for papermaking we use to add
MAXIMUM 1 tbsp of washing soda to 5 liters water, to break down
especially tough fibers, but washing soda is caustic, rubber gloves
needed, so don't use it unless you have to.
Stephani Stephenson
steph@revivaltileworks.com
http://www.revivaltileworks.com
Debbie on tue 13 sep 05
First, I want to know how complicated of a mold can one make? I am not
talking about bowls, mugs, plates, etc. I'm talking about sculptures that
have holes, insides, outsides, besides...;)
I tend to do my best job the first time around, and when I attempt to
duplicate something, it just doesn't work right. This may change with
practice, but for the sake of argument, I was curious is there was any way
to make a mold out of completely complex figures.
For an example of what I mean, please see the Bird's Nest and Family Tree
pieces at my site, http://www.geocities.com/prism7513/MuddPuppy.html
If you don't like my work, please don't make fun of me. I'm not claiming to
be an Escher or Van Gogh. I just like to make puns and use some irony. I
have tons of ideas in my head waiting to get out!...but that's another
topic.
Second question is can I soak newspaper in water and then use a regular
blender to mix it and then wedge it into my pre-mixed bag ready clay? I
don't have any fancy mixers or anything, and I don't mind using a drill if
I have to, but just wondered.
Thanks again for all your help! You guys have been great! And patient :o)
Debbie on wed 14 sep 05
Thanks...I didn't think about the fact that I might loose the whole "hand
made" look by molding. You have a good point. I just wish there was a way
of making things look the same the second time around. Sometimes I know
they might look better, and sometimes not. It's just hard for me to let go
of things that are "one of a kind." I thought that if I could make a mold
out of them, then I could be happy with the next one I made...but I may not
be, for the reasons you list.
I guess I'll have to just try my hand (literally) at making another piece
and hoping it is as good. Perhaps that's why artists make so many pieces
that are CLOSE to being the same, but one element is changed in each. This
way they aren't competing with the original, but they are still getting the
same point across.
Deb
Snail Scott on thu 15 sep 05
At 09:44 PM 9/13/2005 -0400, you wrote:
>First, I want to know how complicated of a mold can one make?...>For an
example of what I mean, please see the Bird's Nest and Family Tree
>pieces at my site, http://www.geocities.com/prism7513/MuddPuppy.html
The internal cavities in the texture of both these pieces
will make a mold rather difficult to produce, and difficult
to use as well. Sorry. It's the recessesin the t4exture,
rather than the form, tha will be the real difficulty here.
If the recesses were filled in, it would be much easier,
but some of the textural effect would certainly be lost.
The piece below 'Bird's Nest', or the other hand, is the
type of piece that could be produced form a mold without
too much difficulty.
When making a piece with the intention of producing a mold,
it's often best to NOT make the pattern (the 'original')
from clay. If it's made of plasticine, it can be cut apart
to simplify the mold. The clay pieces pulled from those
molds can be reassembled in wet clay after molding just
like making claywork from scratch, and it's much easier
than making a mold from a rigid non-cuttable complex form.
As for paperclay, it won't be easy to wedge the wet paper
into regular clay (and if you let it dry first, it makes
solid paper again). I'd make new clay from scratch, using
the paper pulp as a base and adding dry clay until it's a
slip consistency, then blunging and letting it sit to firm
up (on plaster or in canvas bags, etc.) Of course, if you
have an actual clay mixer, use that instead.
-Snail
>Second question is can I soak newspaper in water and then use a regular
>blender to mix it and then wedge it into my pre-mixed bag ready clay? I
>don't have any fancy mixers or anything, and I don't mind using a drill if
>I have to, but just wondered.
>
>Thanks again for all your help! You guys have been great! And patient :o)
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
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>
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melpots@pclink.com.
>
John Rodgers on thu 15 sep 05
Debbie, any pieces you make by hand that are essentially the same -
actually won't be, at least in my experience. There will always be small
variations sufficient to distinguish between them if you look closely.
You might consider numbering any pieces that you make in a series that
are the same in general appearance.
As for making molds for complex figures --- yes, it can be done. But it
a large task and one I would not undertake unless I had real good reason
to do a large number of reproductions or was going to get a fancy fee
for doing just a few reproductions. The amount of work and time
involved to make a mold set for complex pieces is significant, and as
Stephani said, requires a high level of mold making skill and
understanding of process. I made a series of complex reproductions for
a church and it required a complex mold set. Not only did I have to make
the original molds, I also had to build block-and-case molds to enable
the making of additional production molds. When done, a single mold set
to produce a single figure was comprised of a total of 13 molds, and
had a total weight of 150 lbs. The molds produced 13 separate slipcast
porcelain pieces that had to be assembled, chased, dried and fired
without cracking. Quite a task. Done along with my other work, it took
me nearly 9 months to get it all completed.
There is nothing wrong with hand making your pieces once at a time,
unless you have good reason to increase you volume of production.
Regards,
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
Debbie wrote:
>Thanks...I didn't think about the fact that I might loose the whole "hand
>made" look by molding. You have a good point. I just wish there was a way
>of making things look the same the second time around. Sometimes I know
>they might look better, and sometimes not. It's just hard for me to let go
>of things that are "one of a kind." I thought that if I could make a mold
>out of them, then I could be happy with the next one I made...but I may not
>be, for the reasons you list.
>
>I guess I'll have to just try my hand (literally) at making another piece
>and hoping it is as good. Perhaps that's why artists make so many pieces
>that are CLOSE to being the same, but one element is changed in each. This
>way they aren't competing with the original, but they are still getting the
>same point across.
>
>Deb
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
>
>
Norman Aufrichtig on thu 15 sep 05
an interesting, though not really for production mold making technique:
i tried this once, it worked.
made a silicon mold of a figurative sculpture i had made (very complex, lots
of undercuts),
put paperclay slip into it - put the mold with the clay in it into electric
kiln, left the lid open heated it slowly
till dry - removed the clay form - fired it - worked wonderfully.
norman
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