jpds

I had decided to explore making a mask using copper and started by attempting to cast using alginate and plaster. I started by casting my face and head using plaster bandages. This was first intended to be provide a structure to support an alginate cast of my face and secondly to provide a cast of head shape to use to expand the face into a head.

The next step was to cast my face with alginate and had several attempts which failed due to temparature/ consistency and care using with the alginate.

Previously I had done this more successfully by making a thicker than usual batch of alginate and pouring it over myself and then applying pre-prepared plaster bandages while unable to see, on top of the alginate mask so it was then supported.

This time I had prepared a plaster cast which I hoped to use to catch the alginate and support it when taking it off my face but this proved difficult.

I am interested in copper as a material which is also commodity where it's use in production gives it value more so than those materials used mainly for pomp, ornament and glamour, fetishized, dug from earth on industrial scale reburied in underground vaults in another place. Why is one material differently and can commodity apply to human ?

I ended up using alginate in a bowl and used a breathing tube whilst it set. This meant the alginate could hold together but the cast was distorted where the breathing tube went into my mouth.

https://snap.as/me/photos/yDlFgALv I was however pleased to capture eyes partly open as intended.

I was able to then use the alginate to make a plaster cast from which to model the copper.

Copper Material

I decided to go with copper roll which is 0.127mm or 0.005” thick. This is a lot thinner than etching plates and much easier to shape requiring less force and tools that thick plates. It is thicker than some foil I tried which was too thin to hold its shape.

I quickly discovered that the edges are sharp and quickly destroy the fine features captured in the plaster that I was using as a model.

My intention is to have impressions drawn and embossed on the pieces of coper but first wanted to explore to what extent the metal could capture the impression of the plaster.

Applying Copper first tranche.

Copper Eyes

My plan is draw and patina pieces before assembling later sewing with thread and also using rivets.

At the moment I am undecided on the size and shapes of individual pieces of copper, whether even, odd and what sizes to use.

I have been beating the metal with a hammer smoothing with a toothbrush handle which makes it more pliable. I have not tried heating it as may find this out when looking at colour and patina.

I also want to explore casting in something more sturdy than plaster to see if I can use the cast face as a stone anvil for shaping the metal against.