Introduction to body casting
Time: 10:00 - 17:00
Location: Keeley Street
Course Code: VU105
Duration: 2 sessions
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What is the course about?
In this course you will be instructed in how to make plaster bandage and alginate casts of the face, head and body parts including hands and feet. The moulds you make will then be used to create finished plaster casts. We will also look at contemporary artists and their use of body casts in their work.
What will we cover?
Preparing a model for casting, body casting, mould making, plaster casting and the use of alginate to make moulds for casting.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Make one or more plaster casts of body parts.
- Cast using plaster bandage method and alginate method.
- Make a body cast safely and with minimal discomfort to your model.
- Make moulds for plaster casting and experiment with coloured pigments on final plaster casts.
- Clean and finish of body part casts.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Beginners to learners with some experience.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
This is a hands-on course combining practical and verbal instruction. Learners will work in teams of two with one as
model and the other as mould maker with one-to-one and group instruction and demonstration from the tutor.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
All essential materials and equipment will be provided and are included in the course fee.
You must wear flat sturdy shoes with a closed toe. Please also wear old working clothes that you do not mind
getting messy or bring overalls.
We also recommend that you bring a sketchbook/notebook and pencils to sketch and make notes. A camera is
also useful to photograph your work.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
The City Lit sculpture department offers a wide range of exciting courses that will allow you to progress from
beginner to advanced and learn a range of techniques. After this course you may wish to join a course in a material
or process you have tried before to develop your skills further, or try something completely different. We offer
courses in prop making, metal, clay, wax, carving in stone and wood, mould making and casting in Jesmonite, or
pewter and much more! You may wish to progress onto the year-long City Lit Sculpture course VU841, which helps
you to build your own individual sculpture practice and culminates with an exhibition.
We are constantly adding new courses. Please ask your tutor for advice or browse the City Lit website for
inspiration. It is also possible to contact our visual arts team by emailing visualarts@citylit.ac.uk, or calling (telephone temporarily unavailable) Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm.
Belinda Edwards holds a degree and diploma from Central School of Art and Design, and a teaching certificate from Roehampton Institute. She has been an artist in residence and lecturer with various schools, community groups and colleges in London and has been teaching sculpture at City Lit and elsewhere since 1987. Belinda’s work has been exhibited at many galleries including The Royal Academy. This gives her a deep understanding of the importance of correct technique for accurate and effective carving, whatever the material. As part of developing her understanding of materials even further she worked for a while as a casting technician for a gallery specialising in fine art antiques casting and conserving. These skills, combined with her Fine Arts background enables her to help students to develop their own interests and projects, from first idea through sketches, maquettes, choice of material and tools, to finished sculpture. Belinda’s outstanding qualities as a tutor, are her practical understanding of the challenges faced by individual students, and her skill at enabling them both to formulate ideas and then achieve their goals.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.