Sculpting on to a plaster life mask?

Robot

Active Member
Sorry if these are basic questions, but I need to ask. I can not sculpt a life like 1:1 bust that would be considered life like. I can however buy a plaster life cast and add to it. I haven't really seen this topic addressed before, so I'm assuming it can be done. What type of clay would be best used and not have a problem sticking to the plaster? The overall plan would be to cast in silicone at some point, so I know not to use sulfur based clay.
Would wed clay be acceptable?
What type of armature would I need to use?
Can closed life mask eyes be cut out and reshaped into open eyes?
Any other pointers would be much appreciated as well.


Thanks
Jeff
 
I do this all the time with powers life casts. I use two part apoxie clay to sculp in thedetails. With the closed eyes you'll need to carve out the back of the head to place in glass eyes with hit glue then resulpt in the eye lids. After you get the eyes done, what I do is place a length of pipe along theneck up the center of the head secured in insulation foam. The foam can be carved to fill out theback of the head then covered in the clay of yourchoice. I use paper mache. The remaining pipeextending out of the neck isscrewed into a pipe flange that's attached to aboard which ill use to steady thehead armature. Hope this helps a little.
 
I do this all the time with powers life casts. I use two part apoxie clay to sculp in thedetails. With the closed eyes you'll need to carve out the back of the head to place in glass eyes with hit glue then resulpt in the eye lids. After you get the eyes done, what I do is place a length of pipe along theneck up the center of the head secured in insulation foam. The foam can be carved to fill out theback of the head then covered in the clay of yourchoice. I use paper mache. The remaining pipeextending out of the neck isscrewed into a pipe flange that's attached to aboard which ill use to steady thehead armature. Hope this helps a little.
Thanks Chucky, do you have a brand preference of epoxy 2 part clay?
 
I like epoxy sculpt. Just be sure to get the detais around the eyes blended really well because the epoxy is harder than the plaster you wont be able to sand too much. Also you want to put a fewlayers of primer over the plaster because if you start getting it wet the details in the plaster will melt away.
 
I like epoxy sculpt. Just be sure to get the detais around the eyes blended really well because the epoxy is harder than the plaster you wont be able to sand too much. Also you want to put a fewlayers of primer over the plaster because if you start getting it wet the details in the plaster will melt away.

I never thought about something as basic as wetting the original cast and ruinning it. Can it be sprayed with polyeurthane as well as primer?
 
You could use any sort of oil based clay so you can re-use the plaster bust. I use Kleen Clay. Cheap and easy to work.
 
You could use any sort of oil based clay so you can re-use the plaster bust. I use Kleen Clay. Cheap and easy to work.
Is kleen clay similar to super sculpty? I applied some SS to see how it would stick and it came off too easily.
 
Is kleen clay similar to super sculpty? I applied some SS to see how it would stick and it came off too easily.

I never tried SS on a plaster cast. If you're having trouble getting it to stick, rub a little baseline in the plaster, it will stick then. Not sure about baking the plaster head though. You may need to use a heat gun to cure the sculpey.

To answer another question, most any spray can primer will be fine to seal up the plaster.
 
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