Preparing to cast my carved limestone MoonSnail. I think this mold is better, but I should reinforce the rigid mothermold: it is too thin on the sides! I have even remember to measure the volume I will need (3 cups) today, so the mold will be really dry tomorrow. I do plan to experiment a bit though: I can’t resist. I will mix two fillers plus pigment in my clear two part epoxy resin, and see what happens. I am hoping it will be opaque, or almost, and a bit stronger (due to chopped carbon fibers as one of the fillers).
Resin Ruins
I have managed to drag success, kicking and screaming, from potential disaster:
-
- Photo of resin cast
-
- Photo 2 of same resin cast
-
- Resin cast scanned
-
- Original carved stone
This is art as a technical challenge: I made a really bad silicone mold of my carving Bluestone Ruins, ruining a layer of silicone with the wrong pigment, then running out of material. But I was able to salvage it sufficiently for this resin cast, and I may be able to get 1 or even 2 more from this very problematic mold.
This “Blue Ruins” cast has two layers of tinted resin. The upper layer is more translucent, but both let some light through. I won’t back light it, since the fiber and a sheet of mesh in the bottom layer would show up too much. However there is a subtle effect from light around the edges in the right light.
Note the effects of lighting: the first 3 images are the dark translucent resin cast under different light. In the 3rd image there is an optical illusion created by the scanner lighting. The relief appears reversed, with all the “outs” appearing to be “ins” :-). I have added a hanger & protective piece of acrylic to the back, so the piece hangs well now. It would definitely benefit from careful lighting however.
I certainly hope I do a much better job with my Moon Snail mold, coming next: the materials are on order.
Salish Sea Circle
Lava
Tulip Fields
More Magic
Always did love the work of those amazing “Golden Age” illustrators (the Robinsons, Rackham, Beardsely, and more). Their influence certainly does creep in to my work now & then! Enjoy the inspiration of the Golden Age at the online Art Cyclopedia!
