Casting; or how to learn from a semi-failure...

It's taken a while but I'm finally posting on my first attempt at casting. I suppose I could best sum up the experience with a few words; COLD, WET, and DARK. Yep, that sums it up alright. I should say now that not only was this my first experience in casting, but it was the first experience in casting for my sister who helped me. I've been watching, and learning, and research the subject for a while now but she hasn't. So I really have to give her all the credit in the world for not only doing a great job for her first time, but also for making sure I stayed alive.

This was something I have been building up to for some time now. I had put it off for a while, but finally decided to just do it already. And all the research in the world aside, I'm a firm believer that people only really learn by doing. So after getting the necessary materials and ignoring my nerves the time was now.

It started out simple enough, I sat on a chair, plastic on the floor and garbage bag around my shoulders. Vaseline in my eyebrows to prevent anything from sticking and a bald cap holding tightly to my scalp. I mixed the alginate as quick I could and my sister began spreading it across my head. The alginate is what picks up the details of your face in the casting process. And added plaster bandages for some support.

From there more plaster bandages were added to create the outer shell.

Because this was my first time out I really didn't want to make a casting that was too involved, or rather too large, so I focused on my face and the top and sides of my head. After a bit of time the plaster dried and we began to take everything off.

I was fine through the whole process, like I said it was cold, dark, and wet. But I was actually quite relaxed. The thing was as we were taking it off my breathing changed, I don't know what it why. I started breathing harder and faster, it felt almost like I was about to start hyperventilating. But we got everything off after a minute. The unfortunate thing was, while the plaster was fine, the alginate layer tore apart so easily it was ruined.

But the entire thing wasn't for nothing, I learned quite a bit. For one thing the next time I try I'll make the alginate layer much thicker. And try to add as many plaster elements to support it as possible. I'm still very hopeful that I'll have a cast ready to work with quite soon. And when I do, I'll be able to begin experimenting with creature makeup and FX in a serious way.

Till next time.