A Scond Try

Using a different approach, I constructed a “second try” vessel shown below.  A wax model of the shape I wanted was made and then wood pieces were pressed into it far enough to hold them secure for the next step.  Plaster of Paris was mixed to a thick cream consistency and applied over the wood pieces, forming a shell that embedded each wood piece protruding from the wax model.

 

The plaster of Paris shell was left open at the top so that when the piece was heated in an oven the wax would melt.   This left the ends of the wood pieces protruding inside the shell.  Various colors of resin were mixed and poured one at a time, into the vessel.  After each batch of color was added and allowed to set up on that portion of the interior surface, the vessel was rotated slightly.  This was repeated with each color pour until I felt a sufficient wall thickness had been reached over the entire inner surface. 

Finally sanding began on the outside surface to remove the plaster of Paris shell, leaving the mosaic pattern of the wood pieces.  My, what a mess that was.  Plaster dust was everywhere.  I even tried to cut the shell down with a router.  The piece was suspended between two points in a frame that I constructed.  With my router attached to the frame, I turned the piece by hand and adjusted the cutter to take off plaster and wood, just as in a lathe.  After the plaster was all removed and the wood exposed evenly, the piece was finished by sanding.  This wasn't the most effective method of working the vessel down but eventually a smooth surface was achieved

This process had its drawbacks.  It was difficult to tell how thick the wall was built up and impossible to keep it a uniform thickness.  The tendency is to apply too much resin in some spots as the attempt is made to get adequate wall thickness in others.  This results in an overweight vessel.  At the same time it was possible to sand through the wall in thin areas, which I did, and then had to patch the hole.  To create a large vessel by this method would be a backbreaking task.  So, once again I went back to the drawing board.

I needed a process that gave me more opportunity to develop free form shapes of various sizes with walls that give the finished vessel strength and beauty.  I want to have a smooth inner surface and uniform wall thickness.  The capability to use a wide variety of materials on the same vessel would expand the design opportunities.  With all these desired requirements in mind, I finally arrived at the process currently being used.  There are modifications in the process from one piece to the next but by following the basics of the process, I have been able to produce a variety of vessels.  The photo below is a picture of the first vessel made with the process I currently employ. More specific detail can be found in my book,"Unique Vessels: How Do You Make Those Things?"

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