Casting

Casting is the process of developing a mould to pour viscous or liquid materials that will later harden and solidify in shape - think ice lollies. Casts can be made using wood, metals or sands, with etching on the inside to create different textures and forms.

Casting can be tedious work, as it’s the mould that is being developed, making it difficult to imagine the final outcome. Often it's better to model with other materials such as clay before building a mould based on the prototype as casting, depending on the materials used, can be dangerous and expensive; not to mention, depending on the methods used, casts can often be used only once.

Artists known for experimenting with casting include George Segal, famous for his casts of life size models in various forms arranged in selected relevant spaces, often depicting and protesting contemporary issues. Click here.

Plaster casting is likely the most suitable technique for A-level projects. A simple how to guide is available by clicking here.

As with any technique, when experimenting with casting, continually photograph your progress for your working diary as evidence for you portfolio of developing ideas.