Press Molding

Using plaster molds can seem like a limiting way to work with clay however, this is simply not the case. One can use plaster molds to create images that go beyond the simple 2 part slip cast mold. One way to do this is by press molding. To press mold; push clay into both sides of the mold and score at the seams then push both sides of the mold together and give the plaster some time to soak up some of the water from that clay inside the mold. After several minutes pull the mold apart and reveal the press molded form. The possibilities for things you will be able to do with this form are vast. In my work I use parts of press molded forms together in a way that makes them look like something they are not and add those elements to hand built sculptures. For example in the image shown I press molded several different baby and angel heads to make them look like smoke clouds rising out of the smoke stacks on the rabbits back. At a first glance it is sometimes hard to tell that the clouds are made up of heads because the heads are round and some of them have swirly patterns on them for hair so when they are all placed together they look like clouds. So go find some molds and find out what kind of new and exciting ways you can use press molding techniques to manipulate the forms and give that mold a new meaning.

For more information about molds and where to find them visit dogwood ceramics website. http://www.dogwoodceramics.com/Products/molds_for_clay.htm