I’m using a 2 part addition cure RTV (room temperature vulcanization) silicone rubber that gives a flexible yet tough and reusable mould. The process starts by accurately measuring then mixing the silicone base material with the curing agent.
The silicone is highly viscose while the curing agent has the consistency of water. Not a good combination as its going to be difficult not get air bubbles in the mixture while stirring them together. If air bubbles get trapped in the thick mixture it could weaken the mould and worse, leave air bubble gaps on the surface of the object I’m moulding.
Here goes to pouring mixture into mould very carefully to avoid any more air in the silicone rubber, because unfortunately, there are loads of bubbles in the mixture.
This last photo shows the surface of the filled moulding box and it is evident a lot of air bubbles are in the moulding.
In her installation entitled ‘yellowbluepink’, Ann Veronica Janssens experiments with light and colour to pursue the effects on perception.
Entering a room you are greeted by a wall of pinkish-red light and the sound of other people in the space. The echoing resonance gives the impression that the room is rather large. Walking further into the space the mist changes colour to yellow and you can make out silhouettes of other people. As you continue further the light changes once more this time to blue. On reaching the far wall of the room it was evident that the space wasn’t as large as I’d first thought. The constancy of the mist and ones ability to be able to distinguish anything only at close quarters focused my concentration more on my perception of the space is was in. The following video link gives a idea of what was experienced.
As with the Turrell and Kapoor pieces this art installation has opened up other avenues of the concept of one can be challenged in how one’s perception can be altered.
Have made a moulding box from MDF with it’s reasonably smooth surface I should be able to get away with not having to use a releasing agent. Each piece is screwed together so that it can be taken apart, therefore making it easier to remove moulding once set.
Clay plug in place and ready for moulding.
Top left photo showing chunks of vinyl rubber ready to be put in heating machine (righthand photo). The vinyl rubber is heated to a liquid state then poured into the moulding box. Unfortunately it hasn’t work very successfully. The resultant mould is very poor quality so will try again.
With a little more work the melted vinyl was much better, but transferring it and a bucket before pouring into the mould was a mistake as vinyl started to set too soon. So continued pouring direct from the machine.
Although result was better the quality of the mould is still no where good enough. I’m now trying the Silicone Rubber compound.
With the idea to make representations of large water droplets and failed so far to find a suitable item for the mould ‘plug’ that is droplet shaped, large enough and has a highly polished surface, I have decided to make it out of clay. Not ideal as the surface of the clay is obviously not ‘glass smooth and polished’, but needs must and have to start somewhere, and have something to work with. By not having the glass polished finish on the plug it means there will be more work involved in cleaning up and polishing the final resin castings.
This is my first ever go on a potter’s wheel … should be interesting!
Well as first attempts go, I’m rather pleased.
I’d created a profile from MDF to get an accurate shaped finish the clay plug.
