face casting

I'd appreciate any help or advice on taking casts of human faces. I'm looking for the simplest, most comfortable way to make detailed impressions.

Many thanks

Dear Pat, I place cream on the human face. roll a slab of clay on top of a plastic sheet with holes cut into it for nasal breathing and place over the face to allow such airflow into the nostrils. You have to work rather quickly as the clay is very cold. Once removed from the face, place the clay over a clump of newspaper or absorbant cloth for 24 hours then remove plastic backing and leave until leather dry. I attach these faces to green or bisque fired clay with paper clay slip. It works..

[It would seem like any detail would be on the wrong side of the clay, no? Or do you use the clay as a mold for plaster or something?]

[It's not particularly simple or comfortable, but alginate is the best material I've found for making the mold, which is then filled with plaster. For details on the process (they sell a video, as well as the supplies) check Pinkhouse Studios: http://www.pinkhouse.com ]

Andrew Werby

Alginate seems the easiest medium, but soon you learn you need a mothermold too. Most beginners learn to use plaster gauze bandage very quickly. You need to dip pieces of the cloth in warm water and smoosh the plaster between your fingers before applying it, and smoothe it onto the face.