As you know cast drawing is a very good way to learn to draw a three dimensional object. It’s the second step in learning classical painting techniques as it is taught in many ateliers. The ateliers have many plaster casts from which the students can choose. But what about someone learning at home? There are several sculptor shops in the internet that sell plaster casts but for an unreasonable price (except my drawing casts shop for those in Europe). Especially when you just need a plaster cast for only one drawing, spending a lot of money for a one-time-use makes no sense.
Why anatomical plaster casts?
Because it teaches you to draw three dimensionality and anatomy at the same time. Well, actually any object can be used for a drawing. But plaster is a white material and as a beginner you could easily be distracted by color. In the end it’s the values – the lightness or darkness of something – that makes it look three dimensional – not the color.
A very low budget way to get a life sized drawing cast of a face is to make your own with plaster bandages. The materials can easily be obtained and cost no more than 15$!
What you’ll need:
- Someone to help you
- Plaster bandages (two rolls should be sufficient)
- Toilet paper
- A cup and a stick to mix the plaster
- Paper clip / wire
- (optional) ceramic modelling clay
In this video you see how it is made:
In case you’d like to hang the face cast on the wall you’ll need to put a paper clip/wire into the wet plaster and let the plaster cure.
When my face cast had cured I added some facial details whith ceramic modelling clay. Now it has eyebrows, open eyes and head hair.