F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions

13-11-07

		Arts and Casts offer a professional body casting service, as well as offering pre-made Art-sculptures and commissioned pieces All our work is painstakingly finished to give the best quality possible. We get asked many questions about our processes, hopefully we have answered most of them here for you.
		Questions	Answers
		I want to get my baby's hand/foot cast, are you sure this is safe?	We use dental Alginate to make the mould, which is used for making moulds of the inside of your mouth. Therefore we can assure you it is totally safe on skin.
		What happens if he/she wiggles during the casting process?"	Wriggling babies are not a problem, we use 'fast set' alginate which does what it says on the tin, and will be set before they really have time to wiggle. If possible, we like to take casts just after a nap or feed, when they are usually most calm. The feeling of alginate on skin is not unpleasant and we use a mix at body-temperature for most moulds.
		How long will it take?	Time taken depends on what we are casting. Hands and feet are very fast. The actual time spent in the moulding material is no more than 5 minutes. Body casts of adults will take 20 minutes or more, so a comfortable pose must be chosen Feel free to ask us to give you more details when you call.
		Can I bring a friend?	Of course, but due to the size of our studio, we can only have 1 or 2 spectators at a time, unless they are taking part, eg: a cast of the hands of your family. Please don't bring children who are not taking part, unless you have an adult to supervise them. There are lots of interesting things in the studio to tip/knock over! Also, please don't bring anyone who is likely to try and make you laugh or mess things up for a joke, or anyone who does not approve if you are having a 'nude' piece made.
		"I have a body piercing, is that a problem?	Body jewellery in the area to be cast will need to be removed beforehand. This can be done just before we cast and can be put back in straight away afterwards. If you would like your body jewellery to be included in your sculpture, you can supply a copy of your body jewellery and we will add it to the finished piece.
		What shall I wear for a body cast?	You don't have to wear anything, or if you prefer, we can do a body-cast with the subject wearing an article of clothing, so it shows on the finished piece. This will need to be dipped in soapy water at our studios just before we cast, and will be covered in plaster, so please don't wear anything expensive or to which you are sentimentally attached - last Valentines Harrods lingerie for instance! We will shroud any areas not being cast as best we can. Body casts require you to wear loose fitting clothing on your journey to the studio or you will have marks on your body from waistbands and underwear, and believe me this will ruin your sculpture. It may be best for you to bring a robe for you to change into when you arrive.
		What shall I wear for a hand cast?	Any sleeveless top is fine, but plaster is difficult to wash out of some fabrics, so old clothing is best. We have a supply of t-shirts to cover your own clothing, if required.
		Can I or my daughter / son / husband ect wear a fancy dress costume?	Not a problem :-) If its more comfortable for them to be in their Spiderman / Snow White outfit, then so be it. Please be aware it may get dirty during the process, but we will try our best
		How much does it cost?	This question is hard to answer without knowing what you would like. A baby's hands/feet are quite cheap in comparison to a large body cast. Please look at our Price Guide page for an idea of the costs involved.
		What can be cast?	Most things you can think of can be cast. the more elaborate and bigger casts will obviously cost more. We will always give you a price before we begin the work.
		Will I be able to take my cast away with me the same day?	In some cases with hands/feet casts this may be possible, depending on the finish you require. In most cases however this wont be possible as the casts need to be hand finished and dried out. Your finished item will usually be carefully packed and shipped out to you, or you may come back and collect. Please ask about this when we talk about your commission.
		I have a Tattoo / scar, will this show up?	If you have a new tattoo in the area to be cast, you should wait a few weeks until the scab has come off. Usually tattoos will not show up, unless there is scaring. If you can run your finger over your tattoo and feel it, then there is a chance it may show in the cast. If a tattoo is not too complicated, it can be painted onto your cast at the finishing process, if you prefer. Some scars will show up if they are raised, but most smooth scars won't.