Face Casting

Click below for quick reference

image reference

Materials you need............

Alginate

Cap

Plaster Bandage cut to 6"-8" Lengths

Plaster

Vaseline for eyelashes

2X bin Liners

1x model

You and an assistant

Level 3

Before you take on a face casting there are a few golden rules.

• Do not cover nostril's

• Do not put in mouth

• Use a cap for hair line

• use some sort of neck rest as cast gets heavy or lay down

• double check all your materials are to hand and prepared for use.

• its better to have an assistant to help you

Collect all your materials together.......

cap, alginate, warm water for plaster bandage that you have already cut to 6"-8" lengths, something plastic to put on the floor and around shoulders of model I use black plastic bin liners, plastic bowl for mixing alginate and plastic mixing tool.

Right now for the nitty gritty make sure you warn your model that the alginate is cold and may end up feeling heavy try and support the neck reassure your model that the alginate is completely safe to use.

Its best to get your model to put the cap on themselves and wipe some Vaseline over the eyebrows and lashes.

Mix the Alginate as per packet (I have always found you need more water than the packet says this will also increase work time), now layer it on to the models face wiggle the alginate into the corners of eyes and mouth, start at the top of the face so if any starts to run off it should still be on the face and not the floor (yet). Remember DO NOT BLOCK NOSTRILS.

Leave the Alginate to set this should be about 2 mins.

You should have your bowl of water and plaster bandage ready.

Hold the bandage at each end dip it into the warm water lift out the bandage and lightly squeeze the water out still holding on to the ends.

Layer it onto the Alginate which will have set by now, this will serve as a case for the mould drastically reducing the risk of the Alginate tearing or distorting. Leave to set.

Taking off the mask, this is the easy bit get your model to lean forward ask him/her to wiggle their face and she/he should start to feel the alginate release.

Now both of you take a breather coffee etc

Mix the plaster pour it into the alginate mould swirl it around to make sure you have covered all areas leave to set for a couple of hours, then gently prise the moulds apart.

Hey Presto you've done it you will probably get he bug for doing more.

You can spray the finished mask or paint with acrylics or just leave the mask as it is.

Put on cap and bin liner	Lay on Alginate	Make sure you do not cover nostrils.	The Alginate can get heavy	Leave to set

Layer on Plaster     Bandage	Again do not cover nostrils	Leave to set	Lean forward and release mould	Finished Negative