Plaster body casts

Hi, can anybody tell me, or direct me to information concerning how to make body-casts a la George Segal. In the Smithsonian Magazine (Jan 1998) we are told 'In the old chicken coops on his New Jersey farm, artist George Segal has been wrapping plaster-impregnated bandages around friends and family members since 196l. When the casts dry, he cuts them off the models, using them as molds for life-size sculptures in the 'environments' .

Can anybody tell me, or direct me to more information concerning how to make body-casts and other casts in this way?

Thanks in advance

Jeremy Lovell-Smith

SYNAIR is a mold making materials company that also produces a video tape series on how-to make molds and castings: plaster, rubber, latex, bodycasts, etc. THE COMPLEAT SCULPTOR sells every imaginable material that a sculptor could every need. SYNAIR is located in Chattanooga, TN and THE COMPLEAT SCULPTOR is located in New York City. They both have websites that are relatively easy to find and they should be able to answer most, if not all, of your questions.

Good luck Jeff Cody

Well, that's pretty much how bellycasts are made, so if you search on that, you'll find lots of how-to.

Basically, vaseline model, wet plaster bandage, apply to model, overlap successive pieces, repeat. You can stop when you've got about 1/4" thickness. For strengthening large areas, either plaster in a board, or using burlap and plaster make ribs or ridges.

Just buy some from an art store and give it a go on your leg. Use lots of vaseline, lots. Otherwise, you will lose hair when removing the cast.

check out BODY DOUBLE silicone by Smooth-On - this material was made specifically for lifecasting. www.smooth-on.com