OldManTree Forest

Project Objective:
To make a one-piece mold that originates the first object.
Then create a two-piece plaster mold of that object to make multiple images that must interact or communicate with one another in some fashion.

I began this project by creating a three dimensional object- an "old man tree"- using the clay image of my face from a plaster mold as my starting point. I then created a mother mold of this object.

I then made multiple old man trees- two by pouring plaster into the mold, and one by layering both plaster and fiberglass resin.
Since resin is usually clear, I put objects in the resin as it dried such as pine cones, rocks, leaves, etc. But the resin grew darker and darker as it dried, hiding all the treasures that float inside.
I reinforced the original clay object (which had broken into two halves) with plaster, making a total of five objects.
All the objects were painted a tree-trunk brown with a dark fungus-green sponged over the surface.

For the display, moss, leaves, branches, and sticks were incorporated.

I used an overturned basket covered in an earth-colored towel to act as a pedestal for on of the trees.
Although the look of the towel was intended to add to the moss-like texture, it ended up being distracting and confusing.


The shapes were successfully made but the overall composition of the finished piece could be better.
If I could re-do this project, I would have put much more thought into the presentation, rather than focusing so much on each individual object.




Trees are the earth's endless effort to speak to the listening heaven. ~Rabindranath Tagore, Fireflies, 1928