Plaster Body Casting -Belly

Chrissy D · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 1048 Location: Queensland

Im looking into those "Pregnancy Belly Casting Kits" as I want to make a belly cast than paint it.

The kits don't go into detail about the type of paster etc. Some sites say they use medical grade plaster and gauze. But I still dont know enough about it or understand it all. From what I can see in this example kit there is no powdered plaster which you mix...so how does it work? Do you just wet the bandage? (Forgive my ignorance as I have never broken anything to know how they (doctors) make casts) http://www.bellymasking.com.au/belly-masking-kit-contents.htm

Can anyone provide advice/suggestions on the process or their experience with making their own life casts? Also using the proper materials for casting people (not sculptures).

Cheers

Devilbiss · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 3209

I saw a performance artist make a sculpture of himself by dipping silk into a bucket of plaster then having his assistant drape it over his head, shoulders and arms.
He had to stay still for about fifteen minutes and it looked brilliant.
The silk was so fine that it really clung to his skin and produced an amazing sculpture.
He auctioned it off to the crowd for twenty dollars.
Easy Peasy.

Steve Gray · Joined: 17 Aug 2008 Posts: 1569 Location: Geelong

Yep they are bandages impregnated with dry plaster, dipped in water and then draped to suit, you lay them on top of each other and smooth them together to get the air out and start the process, build up a few layers.

Devilbiss · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 3209

belle · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: Newcastle

I did a full torso cast of a student, front and back just using plaster. Then we made a fibre glass version. She was a bit of a livewire so had her at my mercy as I started to chisel into the mold to split it. Her brother was a surfboard maker who helped with the fibre glass. Of course she was so keen on the process she didn't want to think about why she was doing and how it would be presented.
Before plaster bandage I used to use plaster for face masks and body moulds. Had some hilarious times.

olivier · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 10 Location: New Zealand

Hello Chrissy,

...www.bodyscape.net.nz publishes a comprehenmsive life casting tutorial...
It uses a female torso as an example but the same techniques and methods can be applied to any other body part.

It easier than you think...

Cheers,

Olivier

vox pop · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 40

I did a cast of my pregnant belly. I just went to the art shop and bought rols of plaster bandage but you can get kits online at keepsake castings.com as well. They come off a little flimsy when they are dry but i solved that problem by putting more layers on it until it was the thickness i liked. I put the extra layers on it once it was off my belly and lying flat on the table, that way i got to make the edges even so it hung flush against the wall. It is so much fun and such a good memory to keep! I am also in the middle of painting it and have so far had no trouble with the paint coming off the plaster.

Chrissy D · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 1048 Location: Queensland

Yeah I thought about buying some plaster bandages having looked into whats in the kits.

Could you show us a picture of yours Vox Pop?

olivier · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 10 Location: New Zealand

A mould done with plaster bandages will not capture as much details as if you were using alginate first and then plaster bandages over the alginate... The alginate will capture every single details of your skin texture and the resulting plaster casting is really fascinating...

The picture below gives you an idea of the details that can be reproduced if using alginate..

vox pop · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 40

Hi,

I'll try my best to put up an image...i'm not very good with tht sort of stuff so it might take a little while! Not to long though i hope, i will try my best!
Also alginate might be nice. I have only just found out about it and have taken a few moulds of my babys hands and they are AMAZING!! They get every wrinkle there is. I bought that from keepsake castings as well, it was a whole lot cheaper for starting out with than from the art shop. Any way, I shall endeavour to put up an image for you later today.

Vox

Chrissy D · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 1048 Location: Queensland

Well I finally got a chance to do my belly cast before bub came...just in time. Was done a few days before I gave birth.

Here is the completed pics.

Now what to do with it? I thought about just painting it white as I like the look of a classical sculpture (think Roman and Grecian Busts etc). But I don't know if I should 'shape' the shoulders e.g. cut them off or not. I thought I can always subtract the plaster. Should I mount it in a frame to stick on the wall? Any suggestions? Its one of those things you do but will probably not keep for life.

pugwash · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 1379 Location: Perth

Wow! Chrissy, you only just got that done in time!
Split it down the middle and make a pair of cupboard doors out of it. You could keep all your baby stuff in it. Very Happy

Or when you tire of it you could put it upside down in the garden with a couple of goldfish in it. Very Happy