Half Wit Bowls free class with Stephanie Lee on Jeanne Oliver's website www.jeanneoliver.com . I watched the video on making a plaster of paris bowl a couple of weeks ago. Below is a picture of hers. Let's see what I can do!
Step one: I had to re-watch the video after I finally got some plaster of Paris strips and mix. I found an old flower pot to use for a mold, and had no plastic wrap to cover the mold with, so I improvised with a plastic bread bag. I think I started it on Wednesday.
I got the bag placed over the mold somewhat ok and wrapped the wet plaster of Paris strips about four layers deep, maybe more on parts, smoothed it out the best I could, and left it to dry overnight to make sure it's completely dry before the next part. I had plaster powder everywhere! Yikes!
Step two: I let the bowl dry overnight. It still feels kind of damp, but I took it off the mold, and the plastic bag came right out of the plaster, no problem. It did leave quite a few wrinkles on the inside, but I can fill them in with the plaster mix when I continue working on it later. I'm letting it dry a bit more. (Thursday)
The plaster is really messy and it crumbles everywhere when handled. I don't think I will be making another bowl with it. I do like the texture of it on journal pages though, and am enjoying this experience.
The next thing to do is trimming the top edge, reinforcing any weak spots, and adding the nose and mouth! Maybe later today... (Friday)
So, I got the top trimmed and added poor excuses for a nose and mouth, using the strips. Then I thought I followed the box directions when I mixed the plaster powder in a bowl. I used the whole two and a half cups box mixed with water in a plastic bowl, because I needed to cover the outside and inside of the bowl. I mixed it good with a fork, scooped up some and began applying it to the outside, but it dried so fast, both on the bowl and in the bowl that I wound up with kind of a mess.
I forgot to re-wet the gauze strips, and they sucked all the moisture out of the mixture, making it very difficult to apply the new layer. I was working fast and managed to get an uneven lumpy layer of the plaster on all of the outside, except the face part. I didn't have enough water in the mixture in the bowl, so while I was trying to apply the layer to the bowl, it set up like concrete. Totally useless! So I had to toss the hard plaster mix. No plaster strips or mix left at all.
But the bowl itself is not lost...yet!
I didn't want to buy more plaster, and I thought I had some paperclay, so I went on Jeanne Oliver's FB group, A Creative Community, and asked about applying it over plaster of paris. I really appreciate the replies from Stephanie and the other ladies too. It will work!
When I dug it out of my supplies though, it turned out to be Premier stone clay, which works with water also, so I'm going to give it a try to finish the face part and build up the nose and mouth some more. We'll see how that goes later today! (Saturday)
Well, I didn't get to it yesterday, but I spent all evening Sunday working on the face with Premier stone clay and water. The plaster was dry this morning all the way through, I think. The clay was not as easy work with as it looks. It isn't quite as messy and doesn't dry as fast, but I found it hard to work with, even though I re-wet the plaster on the bowl and constantly wet my fingers.
So this is how I've left it to let the clay dry completely, after much working and re-working of the features, and the nose is still crooked. Oh, well. So is mine!
So today (Monday) the bowl is dry, so I brushed on two coats of white gesso, letting dry between coats, inside and out. I think Stephanie put one coat, but I put two. I may have messed up for when I apply the glaze. We'll see! I also collaged the paper cheeks on with gel medium and let dry before the next part. That's some of mama's handwriting on the cheeks! Getting down to the done part!
She and I have been on quite an adventure together, but now she's ready to hold my tools, pens, brushes, etc. Not waterproof, so no plants or wet stuff!
Not perfect, but I love her just as she is! Warts and all! :D
If you should want to make yourself a half wit bowl, please watch Stephanie's video first, because I don't always follow directions! :D Go to www.jeanneoliver.com and click on courses, then free classes, then Half Wit bowls by Stephanie Lee. She also has a whole course available on sculpting with plaster!
I am not a sculptor, but this was a fun challenge for me. I know I said at the beginning that I didn't think I would make any more, but I'm thinking now that I just might make another. As soon as I get more plaster!
In the meantime I have most of a block of Premier stone clay that I need to use before it dries out on me. Let's see what I can come up with to use it!
Stay safe and well, and pray that the pandemic ends soon! Do something fun for yourself every day! :)
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