FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS

Q: What exactly is a face casting?

A: A face casting captures the detail of a person's features in plaster gauze bandage. It takes about 10 minutes start to finish and I then have a “perfect” mold of the face. This can create a “holographic” illusion with the use of lighting, or I can take this casting back to my studio and use it to create a finished work of art in ceramic. Wall masks, teapots, cookie jars. Even wedding goblets can be made by reducing the casting of your face.

Q: How is a face casting made?

A: I use a light coating of vaseline to protect the facial hairs; eyebrows, eyelashes, mustache and beard, then plaster gauze bandage is layered on to the features. It is smoothed over to capture the little details that make up the face. Even teeth can be cast. It takes me less than 10 minutes from start to finish to get an exacting mold. I then use baby wipes to clean them up.

Q: Why would anyone want this done to them?

A: Traditionally it was only nobility and royalty that could afford to have a casting made. They would do it to preserve their ancestry. The process became more accessible and modern techniques brought the casting time down from 45 minutes to 10 minutes. More and more people use it to document the growth of their family. As children grow it makes an excellent way to capture their youth and preserve it for their descendants to see. It offers you the chance to touch people in the future with whom you are now, continuing the Royal concept of “Ancestral Masking”.

Q: What else do you cast?

A: Anything. My favorite piece is the double body casting. Two people snuggle into each other's arms. This casting takes about 17 to 25 minutes to create, but makes a work of art that's timeless in it's beauty.

Q: What is a person going to pay to have a finished work made?

A: My prices start at 25 dollars for the casting of the face. Wall masks in clay start at 95 dollars. The double body casting is $1450 total. The average price for a nice wall mask is about 175.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Derek Weaver
Masquerade Life Casting
1029 KC 434, Harper,TX 78631
830 864-5327