LIFECASTING
First, a DISCLAIMER! Lifecasting is not a technique that should be attempted alone nor should it be attempted by people with no experience. It is potentially dangerous! DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! Seriously!
Here I am, the end of June 2001 at a typical Hollywood prop shop. I am in the capable hands of my pal, Darc, a mega-talented artist (who is friends with my old friend mentioned on the last page; it pays to know people who know people). Here, with her trusty assistant, Bob, the alginate is being applied to my face. Notice the straw in my mouth. We decided to put the straw in my mouth because my mouth was not part of the mask and therefore less important. Putting straws up your nose during lifecasting is very uncomfortable to say the least. I once got a bloody nose that way. It can be done, but we didn't think it was necessary in this case.
Finally, the entire face is covered and the alginate is now waiting to set before the plaster bandages go on to reinforce it. For people who are claustrophobic, this is a scary process. I enjoyed it. I'm only claustrophobic in big crowds. This is like being underwater. Your eyes are closed, your ears are covered and you can't speak. The sound of the air going in and out of the straw is rather hypnotic. The fear of being smothered to death is very real for many people and thus, not everyone is a good candidate for this process. You must be patient, as well. The time you're "submerged" can seem like a very long time!
Once the lifecast is pulled off your face, the mold is filled with a gypsum cement (often Ultra-cal) and allowed to dry. We went to dinner and came back over an hour later and it was ready to come out.
Finally, the piece is removed from the mold. Here, Darc is cleaning up the rough spots, filing down minor imperfections and the like. This piece felt damp for a few weeks after it was done, but it eventually began to feel dry as moisture seeped out of it. It was now ready for me to begin sculpting on!
