Alginate is used in dentistry to make molds of teeth, and in life-casting. It’s completely non-toxic, and sets up in about 5-10 minutes. During this process, subjects remain as still as possible to ensure a well-made mold. Alginate picks up the finest of detail on hands and jewelry.
Because the alginate mold is a flexible mold, a mother mold made of plaster is created on top of the alginate. This mold is rigid and keeps the alginate mold from distorting.
When the alginate and plaster mother mold has set, hands are gently slid from the mold. As you can see, a void is left where the hands were.
Casting stone, which comes in powder form and is mixed with water, is poured into the void. After several hours of cure time, the sculpture can be removed from the mold. Occasionally, there are slight imperfections on the surface which need to be corrected.
