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Journal Entries
To read the journal start
at the home page and
click the
"next" button at the
bottom of each page or
you can see the entire
list of journal entries,
to date, on the
Journal Archive Page
Involving Students
in the Newsboy Sculpture
(the bottom of each page
has student and
teacher information)
Articles Written
About the
Newsboy Sculpture
Newsboy Links
Ordering the Small
or Large
Newsboy Sculpture
(Small sculpture is an
edition of 100,
large sculpture is
an edition of 10)
Gallery of the
Life-Size Newsboy
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January-31-February 7, 2005
The mold Making process
The mold-making portion of the sculpture is underway. It is a lot of work and very physical. First, we cut off both of Dusty’s arms. This will enable us to pull the mold off the sculpture. I also cut off the brim of his hat. I probably could have left it on, but I felt more comfortable cutting it off.
The process of making this mold is similar to the small newsboy sculpture mold. We are making a mold so that we can pour a hollow wax newsboy. To do this we sprayed the sculpture with a sealant, and then with a mold release agent. Layers of rubber are carefully painted on the sculpture. When they are dry, an outer mold called the mother mold is placed over the rubber. It is called a mother mold because it holds the rubber in place. If we just had rubber, then when we pour wax into the mold it would become distorted. The mother mold helps to keep the form.
I have documented another mold making process on my web site. The Kipper Mease mold is different than this one. Kipper's mold was done with a plaster mother mold. This newsboy mold will be done with a fiberglass mother mold. Fiberglass mother molds are difficult to make, but they are lightweight and easy to store.
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 The rubber on the main sculpture is divided up into 4 pieces- front lower torso, front upper torso, back upper torso, and back lower torso. Each front section must be clayed up, and sprayed with mold release. Rubber must be painted on and then finally a section of mother mold applied to the top of that. Once one section is complete, then I can start on another section. It is a long process. While the rubber cures, I will work on other parts of the sculpture. The stick next to the sculpture, in the photo to the right is to help hold up the seam of clay.
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 Remember, I have several pieces that I have cut off the sculpture. Each of these needs to be clayed up and then rubber painted on each side. The left arm with the newspapers is shown in the photo to the left. Knowing how to clay up a piece takes a lot of thought and practice. You must be able to think ahead to the next steps that the piece will go through— the wax, dip and casting.
For artists that are reading this journal please note that the entire process of making this mold will be documented at a later date in great detail as a free online tutorial.
Remember, I have several pieces that I have cut off the sculpture. Each of these needs to be clayed up and then rubber painted on each side. The left arm with the newspapers is shown in the photo to the left. Knowing how to clay up a piece takes a lot of thought and practice. You must be able to think ahead to the next steps that the piece will go through— the wax, dip and casting.
For artists that are reading this journal please note that the entire process of making this mold will be documented at a later date in great detail as a free online tutorial.
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Once I have the mold, I will take it to the foundry and together we will pour waxes. I still don’t like to let go of the project yet. I will take the waxes back to the studio and work on them as well. When I am sure they are ready, they will go back to the foundry, and then my workload and long days will slow down for a bit. But just a little while. I still have some commissions that I have not been able to finish in the rush of completing the newsboy, and I have two more life size pieces that need to be started in the next few weeks.
THE PROCESS