Casting and Creating Modeling Work With EnvironMolds, LLC

EnvironMolds has everything that a mold maker, life casting artist or sculptor might need and then some more. The catalog not only covers a full range of mold making and casting materials but also extends to all kinds of supplies, equipment and accessories that are routinely required by artists in their studios. The art supplies are truly varied and there’s almost nothing that can be found wanting.

Take the Bubble Buster for instance. EnvironMolds has carefully included this PVA mixture in its materials section so as to help artists cut down on the risk of bubble formation when making molds.

When making a mold, first apply a release agent on the original model before spraying a generous amount of Bubble Buster to cover the entire model. Now you can continue with the mold making and readily pour the mold material over the model without worrying about any bubbles.

The trick is that the mixture reduces the surface tension so that bubbles will not stick to the mold! The mix comes in a ready-to-use 6oz and 16 oz spray bottle.

Similarly, EnvironMolds also proffers a rich selection of brass name plates engraved in the art supplies section. You can choose from the sizes, fonts and mounting type to get a customized name plate for your artwork. This will instantly elevate your creation to a professional and gallery-like finish.

Check out your requirements at Artmolds.com.

As a fledgling casting artist, I have become quite adept at capturing the form of simple objects in negative molds. All I have to do is secure the model in a box before pouring or applying the mold making material of my choice. I am adroitly able to capture the intricate undercuts and angles with clay, alginate and even resins.

Now I am just itching to move on and try my hand at making molds of more complicated objects. I picked a shapely figurine for this task and was well aware that the level of detailing all around the model required me to make two part molds.

In simple words, this means that I cannot make the mold in one go. What I need is two molds with each part capturing one half of the model before merging them into a single composite mold.

I chose plaster for this job and started by making a parting line all around the figurine. I followed an ArtMolds video that showed me how to portion off below the parting line with clay and make keys on the clay perimeter. Making a mold of the remaining half was quite easy.

Once cured, I carefully removed the clay border before making a similar mold of the other side. The video guided me on exactly how to join the two parts of the mold together and strap it securely for the subsequent casting.

The mold turned out a little shaky but I was still elated with my first attempt at two part molds!

I have recently started indulging my hobby to make unique and artistic jewelry. The techniques of resin casting are simple to use and perfect for capturing almost anything before fashioning it into a distinctive accessory.

I started with plain items like small dried leaves and beads. I used small round and oval caps and containers to pour the resin over the item. Once cured, finished and glossed over, I could easily turn them into lovely pendants and earrings. The transparent hue framing the tiny pieces did look quite exceptional and very soon people started complimenting on my accessories.

It was when various friends started asking me for the source and I saw how they really wanted to pick some exclusive items, that I considered moving my hobby to a professional level.

Now I use mold trays of varied shapes and sizes to make inventive jewelry. I have even started adding dyes to create lovely hues and effects. Buttons, stones, feathers, sparkles, you name it and I have captured it in a delightful setting. People even bring special keepsakes that they want me to make into a memento that they can display or wear as they want!

You can rest assured that every earring, finger ring, bracelet, pendant or neckpiece will be totally one-of-a-kind and almost inimitable. The style quotient is bound to zoom!

A good thing about liquid latex rubber – apart from its flexibility and tenacity – is that it does not require a release agent. Indeed, a latex mold or cast will peel off easily on curing and generally does not require any release agent.

However, if the model used for making the latex mold is porous or brittle, a release agent is recommended. The preferred products for such applications are paste wax, thinned soap or a silicone spray. If using a watery soap mixture, it should be allowed to dry out before applying the latex.

Keep in mind that latex is soluble in petroleum based products. Petroleum jelly or other oil based compounds are a strict no-no unless you want the latex mold or cast to turn soft and mushy.

Many artists often use a thin mixture of castor oil and denatured alcohol (1:4) as an effective release agent when making latex molds or casts. It can be sprayed easily.

It is always better to test a release agent on an obscure area of the model or latex mold. Also ensure that the release agent does not leave any bubbles that can mar the final mold or cast.

EnvironMolds offers a wide range of mold making and casting materials and supplies such as liquid latex rubber, silicone rubber, polyurethanes, release agents and even mounts and name plates engraved for displaying the artworks.

Alginates are the mold making material of choice for life casting. This dental impression material is derived from seaweed and is completely safe for the skin.

The only drawback is that even after curing it stays soft and flexible. Therefore, it has to be reinforced with a mother mold that will enable it to hold its shape. Plaster bandages are commonly used for this purpose. Thin strips of plaster are rolled out, wetted and applied over the alginate. The plaster in the bandage dries quickly to form a firm and supportive shell mold.

However, the plaster itself may tend to peel back or curl away at times, especially on large surfaces. This will disengage the alginate and can distort the shape of the body mold.

We can overcome this problem by making locking keys before applying the plaster bandages. Place small acorns or clay molds with undercuts around the alginate mold while it is still mushy. Ensure that you completely cover these protrusions with plaster bandages as you work your way over the alginate. These ‘keys’ will lock the alginate and plaster molds together to form a hard body mold.

The plaster sets quickly and is demolded from the model before beginning the life casting process.
Keep in mind that at no point do you have to ‘unlock’ the two molds. They are used together during the casting.

I have been working on a play that has an elaborate tea party as its central theme. This is my first attempt at directing a play and yet, I have to admit that the painstaking planning and rehearsals seem to have come through. The curtain will go up this weekend and my team has been running helter-skelter to get the costumes and props ready for the big night.

It was only during the last minute preparations that it dawned on me that one of the boys will have to run out and raid the nearest delicatessen every evening to have the tea table heaving with buns, donuts, cakes and other delectable tidbits.

There is the fear of the foods going soggy or attracting pests, but the regular props I saw always looked so fake and phony! It was then that my assistant presented me with a selection of faux food casts from EnvironMolds. I really thought he was pulling my leg and actually picked up the ‘chocolate cake’ to see if it was ‘genuine’!

I have to admit that the donuts, petit fours, cakes and coffee looked oh-so-real even from up close. The food cast is made with liquid latex and the color and quality is such that they really deceive the eyes. We even used the Duncan coffee spill in a scene and it just added to the realism.

The audience is easily lulled into thinking the actors are partaking of a real feast and some even call us up to ask for the details of the bakery that makes all that ‘mouth-watering’ stuff!

Signing paintings with a flourish is always the trademark of a professional artist. It brands the art and gives a professional touch to the art.

How will you duplicate the same on your eye-catching cast or mesmerizing life cast? How will the gallery visitors or even your own generations-to-come identify your artwork? Do you want to let your hard work and creativity go unrecognized? Don’t you want your creation to get the honor it deserves?

The answer lies in a brass name plate! A fine nameplate not only elevates an artwork from the ordinary to a professional realm, but also lends a fine elegance to the art. It can be used to gracefully display the title of the cast/life cast, name of the artist and also the date of creation (if you want).

EnvironMolds recognizes this need and supplies chic brass name plates in addition to its sizable collection of mold making and casting materials. They are offered in varying sizes, edging and type of mounting. The company even offers to engrave both the art and artist details on the nameplate with a choice of fonts available to suit your taste.

The brushed low luster finish along with the customized details will work to enhance the importance of the artwork in the eyes of the viewer even while branding your masterpiece forever!