Masks and other Art

[Buster's Uncle]

Any idea how the mask sales went?

Not sure yet, but nobody's handed me any money.  My brother mentioned yesterday he suspects they hadn't gotten last month sorted the last time he was by the shop, as there was no money for any of the four of us. [shrugs]

[Buster's Uncle]

So I figure the mother needs to be in two parts.

 

With a layer of mesh that I'll cover with more gauze.

 

I'll let it firm up overnight, then do the same on the other side.  If the two halves are strong enough and butt together right, I can put a couple of rubber bands around, and all I have to figure out is how to suspend/prop up for pouring...

[Buster's Uncle]

 

Now to see how it turned out, after giving it til tomorrow to set good.

I've worried about this for months -which has hardly encouraged me to proceed- I'm never wild about working with the plaster gauze, and this is a tricky two-part mold that will be hard to fit together tightly and can mess up at numerous points.

[Unorthodox]

So, why the mesh?  I've found just plaster more than enough, myself.  Especially at that size. 

[Buster's Uncle]

Just trying something.  I have concerns about it holding shape - but now doubt that it did more good than harm, tending to make the mother less solid.

[Buster's Uncle]

Want To Be More Creative? Not Being Social May Help

[Buster's Uncle]

She was back at it early...

[Buster's Uncle]

I met a traveler from and antique land who said
Two vast and trunkless legs of stone stand in the desert;
Near them on the sand, half sunk, a shattered visage lies
Whose frown, and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command
Show that well the sculptor read these passions which yet survive
Stamped on these lifeless things;
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.

And on the pedestal these words appear:

MY NAME IS OZYMANDIAS; KING OF KINGS

LOOK UPON MY WORKS, YE MIGHTY, AND DESPAIR!


Nothing beside remains
Round the decay of that colossal wreck
The lone and level sands stretch far away.

[Unorthodox]

Ouch.  Did it not cure all the way or something?  Looks like some weird discoloring. 

[Buster's Uncle]

Beats me - dicey tube of calk and a lot of baking at170-200 degrees.  It seems to be cured.

[Spacy]

no release agents?  It looks to me like it shrunk while curing and it stuck to the mold and that caused the cracks. 

[Buster's Uncle]

Well, if I had it to do over again, believe me, I'd grease up the template.  But I don't think there was shrinkage.  I'd put it down to the baking of the silicone, but I baked the back half more, and had no damage visible on the uncovered side.

If the mold works -and there seems to be nothing wrong with it if my design was any good in the first place and I can get the inside cleaned- I suppose it's not that important; but I'm pretty demoralized about trying at this stage.

[Buster's Uncle]

She varnished the three at the top on the workbench yesterday morning, so they're done.

[Unorthodox]

Ooo, that deep read oni in the background...

Also fond of the green lucha. 

[Buster's Uncle]

Oh yes.  The three on the edge of the bench are old ones she's declined to put out for sale, saying she looks to them for inspiration.  -And the detailing really sells the wrestling mask that looked so lame for so long, with just the green and tan panels.