Plaster sculptures
Plaster of Paris is a sculpting material with a variety of decorative and practical applications. Plaster of Paris is inexpensive and simple to work with. Decorate a finished project with paint or embellish it with beads, stones and wire. Common uses for plaster of Paris include making castings for other artistic mediums, creating sculptures and making home décor objects.
Castings
One common use for plaster of Paris is to make decorative castings to be used as embellishments, jewelry charms and pendants. Select a flexible plastic mold from a craft store and apply a generous coating of a release agent to the mold before pouring the mixed plaster of Paris into it. Release agents can be common household supplies, such as petroleum jelly or nonstick cooking spray. Without a release agent, the plaster of Paris will be difficult to remove from the mold and will often break. Allow the plaster to set up in the mold for one hour, and then remove it. The molded plaster is still soft enough at this point to trim away any excess material from around the edges. Allow the cast piece to dry for at least 24 hours before decorating it.
Sculptures
Another common use for plaster of Paris is to create sculptures. Make your own armature mold for sculptures from wire, newspaper or other household objects. Armatures for sculptures remain inside the plaster to strengthen the piece. To make an armature, create the shape of the outline with 20-gauge craft wire. Cover the outline with paper or tape to create a solid surface so the plaster will have a base. Spray the armature with a release agent, and then coat it with mixed plaster of Paris. After the plaster dries for at least 24 hours, carve, paint and decorate it as you like.
Decorative Objects
Planters and masks are examples of decorative items that can be made with plaster of Paris. Common household objects--such as a bowl or a coffee can--may be used as a mold for plaster of Paris objects. To make a planter, coat the inside of a large bowl and the outside of a smaller bowl with a release agent. Mix and pour the plaster of Paris into the larger bowl. Insert thin dowels that are also coated with a release agent into the center of the wet plaster to create water outlets for the plants. Place the smaller bowl on top of the plaster in the larger bowl. Let the plaster set up for an hour, and then remove the molds and the dowels. After 24 hours, decorate the planter as you like.
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