BRANCHES FOR "MY GUARDIAN" SCULPTURE AND 2nd WEEK OF MY 30 DAY GOAL.

[@atelierarenas]

Thanks for joining me in putting together sculptures for the “Holding Up the Sky” show.

[@Everettalla]

Very impressive technique, also cute dogs ❤

[@atelierarenas]

Thank you 😊

[@xmobile.]

I was always afraid to mess with using plaster... i loathe wearing gloves when being creative and i always thought my school art teachers said don't touch plaster with your hands, but couldn't quite remember why (if it was chemicals or heat reaction), but i see so many people via youtube touching wet plaster with their hands, so I'm still confused about it. I once messed with a cement mix with my bare hands and they became so dry that every little definition in my skin cracked and felt like paper cuts and sandpaper for at least 2 weeks. Still watching. Love seeing your process. Your sculptures are grand.

[@atelierarenas]

I've made molds of people with plaster. It's quite innocuous, but it can get very hot at the end of the curing. It can burn, but only at the end, somewhere around 20-45 minutes after mixing. Cement, on the other hand is caustic. Bad for your lungs, skin, anywhere you get exposed. I hope you'll try working with plaster. 🙂

[@150JMB]

I just discovered your videos. I make much smaller molds and castings with Hydrocal for restoration work. I find it it stronger and harder than plaster and never had a problem with it coming out soft. Depending on the weather and how large the pieces are, it may take an extra day to dry thoroughly. Have you ever used it on any of these larger molds?

[@atelierarenas]

Hi. I used to cast sculptures in hydro cal and hydro stone. What a beautiful material! That makes sense, but unfortunately it's not practical to get it shipped to me in Mexico. Part of my challenge is to work sustainably with easily accessible materials 🤷🏼‍♀️ Sometimes it's an annoyance 😆 Thanks for your comment 🙂