2) Bandage
Application
Take a piece of dry bandage, dip it in the container of water, and
apply. Starting from the forehead, cover the castee's face with pieces
of overlapping bandage, working to create a nice even 1st layer over
the entire face, but leaving holes around the nostrils. Use big triangles
on broad planes, small ones in the more detailed areas. Make sure
not to cover more than half the head so the castee can remove themselves
from the bandages when you are done! Continue
this process till you have 3-4 layers over the whole face, not including
the overlapping of the bandages in a single layer. Make sure to go
far enough under the chin, to the point where it joins the neck. If
you have trouble telling one layer from another, you can dye the water
for the second and forth layers with a small quantity of acrylic paint
to provide contrast.
3) Drying &
Removal
Wait for 5 minutes, or however long it takes for the bandage covering
to feel solid and ever so slightly warm. If it seems nice and strong,
tell the castee to start moving their facial muscles. If they gently
hold the forehead sides of the covering, they should be able to slowly
pull it down and away from their chin and nose.
4) Touchup
Remove plastic. Hold the bandage mold up to the light and look through
from the inside for thin spots. Apply some more bandages on the outside
of those spots to reinforce. Seal up the breathing holes with more
plaster bandage.
5) Casting
When the mold has dried, (ideally overnight in a warm, dry place),
brush a thin even layer of Vaseline all over the inside, being careful
not to miss spots around the nose, and along the edges. Place the
mold nose down into something that will support it level, and keep
the nose from being damaged. A shallow bowl or bucket full of crumpled
up newspaper can work well. Mix up a batch of casting plaster or plaster
of paris and carefully pour it into the mold, just over 3/4 full.
As it gets more solid, scoop the plaster out from the center and up
the sides of the mold, so the inside is not completely solid, and
you get all of the sides cast. Try not to let it spill over the edges
too much.
6) De-molding
and finishing
When the plaster has cooled, carefully start pealing the edges of
the plaster bandages away from it. They should start to disintegrate,
revealing the plaster face underneath. Clean off the plaster head,
sand off any rough bits while still soft, then allow to dry fully
in a warm dry environment. Congratulations, you have made a face casting!
Now pass that art smock over to the castee, it's your turn to get
your face cast!
