Silicone Mould Making Workshop

Making moulds for casting may well be a task that is familiar to you, easy even. However, for members of the Ceramics and Glass group a simple little task was made just a little bit harder!

Course leaders Dana Norris and Kenneth Watt took participants through a process they admitted would “usually take them a week” in just one day. With the aid of fast curing silicone, clear instruction, and plenty of tea, everyone succeeded in producing 2 and 3 part silicone moulds complete with plaster mother moulds. A variety of objects were chosen for the activity, brought by participants from their own studios and homes - everything ranging from a tea cup handle to a Lego man - proving that with correct technique you can produce a mould for just about anything!

The unexpected hit of the day was the modelling wax used in the creation of the moulds. Ken recommended this over the more traditional plasticine as it doesn’t contain those oils which can be harmful to the surface of the object. Members of the group had fun softening the wax before use with a variety of methods including a hairdryer.

There was just time whilst the silicone was curing for a whistle stop tour of the recently created conservation galleries in the Ashmolean. Interestingly, the group was able to see some of Dana’s work on casting new pieces for glass objects in the museum, bringing the slideshow we had initially seen to life!

I think I can speak for the whole group in saying that the workshop was an invaluable experience, introducing new materials and techniques.