Yesterday Liz asked whether I have tried using silicone paper to line my moulds, to which the answer is no. She recommended a silicon paper from Lakeland Plastics which she uses when she is baking. It is non-stick and can be used over and over again, and put in the dishwasher! I was rather overwhelmed at the range of non-stick sheets that are being sold at Lakeland Plastics, and after asking some advice, I bought a couple of non-stick materials to test out.
I rolled a couple of small cones from the two materials, and filled them to create solid cones. The 'non-stick baking parchment' with a lining of silicone was too thin and flimsy to hold its shape when filled, but I may be able to use this to wrap around solid forms such as the inside of a pipe.
The 'magic non-stick liner' was able to keep it's shape and was thicker and easier to form a cone with. The plaster was repelled by the surface, and so it would not be able to create a hollow form, but the plaster did set after time, and so could be used to create solid forms. I will see tomorrow if the plaster peels easily off the surface, and if this is the case, I may well be going back to the shop to see if they have large rolls of the material!
I am trying to create a form that has a solid single colour on the outside, but layers of colours on the inside. I want for the viewer to be surprised when they see inside. In order to be able to see the layers, the form will need to be bored into, and so I set up an experiment today whereby I inserted a cone wrapped in 'non-stick baking parchment' into the centre of the form. I had coated the outside of the would with a single colour of plaster, and will now fill around the outside of the cone with layers of coloured plaster.
I have been trying to create more 'polo' sculptures, but am finding this difficult as the plaster is not coming out of the mould easily, and in the process of trying to get the plaster out of the mould, the cast often breaks.
After my recent trip to Lakeland Plastics, I wonder whether a cake tin would be a good thing to use as a mould. I could line the cake tin with the baking parchment that I bought today.
I added some more layers to the 'v-shaped' cardboard mould.
I am thinking of using the pipes as props within the exhibition, and started to pour layers of plaster around the edge of the pipe to create dribbles or spillages down the sides of the mould.
I worked on the grey outside of the corner cast, but am finding that each time I rotate the mould to cover another surface, the grey begins to peel off the other sides.
My experiment yesterday with adding the strengthening fabric to the sheet of plaster was very effective at adding strength. The cast could be removed from the mould without any breaking off, and the sheet is strong enough to be propped up against the wall.
I added a layer of the strengthening fabric to the breezeblock shaped casts from yesterday.
I am excited about the potential of using the strengthening fabric to create hanging sheets and also large sheets that stand up.
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