Moldmaking Basics at Rory Mahon's Studio
3 hour class
This class is designed for Sculptors and other Art Makers. The workshop will offer an exploration and step by step processes of the many ways you can use molds to make, reproduce objects and create forms. Some methods will be familiar to you, and some you will never have seen before. It will be a grand overview of techniques and materials you can replicate in your studio.
We'll talk about plaster molds, alginate, moulage, rubber, sand molds, metal molds, found object molds, and more. A mold can help you produce a form that you can't model yourself, or it can be a quick way to take a form, and reproduce dozens of them.
Rory Mahon will talk about strategies to help you decide which type of mold is right for various objects:
We'll talk about Plaster molds, one of the most versatile and economical types of mold.
- AlginateMolds; perfect for making safe molds of hands and faces, and gives incredible detail. Moulage molds, a more economical alternative to Alginate
- Rubber molds, the real workhorse of molds that allow you to mold intricate objects. Can be used to cast plaster, wax, resin, etc.
- Sand molds, the kinds of molds that can allow you to cast metal in your simple backyard foundry, These can be simple one piece molds or complicated multi piece molds. We'll cover chemically bonded molds, and Green sand molds.
- Then there's metal molds, found object molds, and more. A mold can help you produce a form that you can not model yourself, or it can be a quick way to take a form, and reproduce dozens of them.
There will be a lot of information given out, so bring a pad to draw on and take notes or other note taking source. Photos are also a good way to capture your thoughts. Your instructor will provide all the techniques and tips to create your own moldings and will answer questions there and any you may think of when you get home.
As this class offers the basics and more, you may want to continue with a 5-6 day workshop which allows you to make molds in Mahon's studio whcih you may bring home and continue the processes of creating sculpture art.
About Your Instructor:
RORY MAHON
Short Bio 2023
Rory Mahon grew up in NYC
Attended The Cooper Union-BFA
Rory Mahon moved to Princeton, NJ to begin a very long relationship with the Johnson Atelier where he co-started and ran the Sand Foundry for many years, seeing to the casting of work by World class Sculptors, and teaching apprentices sand molding skills
Rory Mahon has had extensive teaching and workshop experience at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Grounds for Sculpture, Artworks Trenton, etc. Also ran many Workshops and demos at International Sculpture Conferences in America, Canada and Europe. Mahon is the founding member of Abominog International, a working and teaching Iron pouring organization that gives many public demos and workshops every year. He worked from 2010 to 2021, at the Princeton University Art Museum as a Preparator. His work is shown at numerous regional galleries and Museums.
Mahon currently runs his own Photography, Sculpture Studio and Foundry at his home studio in Hopewell Township, NJ where he teaches classes.
www.rorymahon.com
What to Bring: Lunch & a drink, paper and materials for taking notes
Workshop Location: 1423 Trenton-Harbourton rd. Pennington, NJ 08534