String Bean

This resin piece started as a wax model approximately 20" high and 5" in diameter.  This was covered with Plaster of Paris to form a shell mold.  When the wax model had been melted out the mold was cut into three equal lengths.  In the meantime various shaped and colored resin beans were cast and smoothed to incorporate in the resin piece. Casting started in the inverted top section with small pours of clear resin and color introduced to create the desired transition.  The timing of the pours was close enough together so that  the last fused to the previous and eliminated a line from being produced between them.  Catalyst was reduced as the heat from previous pours became a factor in setting the resin.

As this procedure continued past the head area of the mold, several cast beans were introduced into the mold.  They sank into the resin but didn't penetrate the previous pour resulting in a good distribution as progress continued.  I was disappointed that most of the beans had a flat structure and didn't show as well as I had hoped from the side.  When the resin pour reached the top of the first section of mold the second section was glued on and casting continued.  After the third and final mold section had been attached and filled, a bronze base that had been cast was attached securely to the piece.

The cast mold was removed giving a first look at the resin figure.  Rough as the surface was I could see the interesting patterns of color and the assorted arrangement of beans.  I was pleased with the results and after extensive sanding and shaping the final product evolved as shown below.

*More detail can be found on my art at my website <www.apatchablue.com>