August 22, 2026

Preparing a Clay Stingray for Silicone Mold

After ten years in the foundry, where I’ve spent money on the process of creating a bronze sculpture, I’ve decided it’s time for me to create a sculpture at home. As I’ve done in the past, I’ll start with clay, but I’ll also learn how to pour materials at home. Clients will be able to afford a small, desk-sized sculpture that will bring them joy and perhaps a memory of a special place. This sculpture will also serve as a maquette, a small, three-dimensional scale model or rough draft. Artists create maquettes to test proportions, work out design ideas, and plan larger final sculptures or architectural projects before using expensive or hard materials.

Learning Curve

There’s a significant learning curve involved. For example, how do you create a two-part mold of an animal that isn’t just flat and straight, but curved and complicated?

This is where I have great respect for mold makers. It’s not done on a computer, and it’s not a 3D image. It’s good old-fashioned use your brain, hands, and get dirty.

Each passing hour brings me closer to my goal; each moment of solitude is a step toward perfection, honing my methods and materials. And when the final smooth touch is laid, and the sculpture stands in all its glory, it will witness the countless hours spent pursuing a singular vision, a vision of beauty, grace, and unwavering dedication.

Complex Shape... Curved Dolphin

So, you have this curved dolphin, creature of choice!

It’s curved; it has a pointy mouth, a flat tail, a curved body, and fins in all different areas of the body. How in the world will I begin to create a mold so the mouth, fins, and tail all come out without ripping it? 

Google AI with No Answer

You can “Google” the heck out of the question, but you won’t find what you are looking for because no one has posted or created anything like what I have in mind. I tried to “talk” to “AI”; that was a big joke! It drew about ten wax parts coming out of the dolphin’s mouth. REALLY!

Thanks to Reynolds Casting Materials for the personal assistance in creating a good “two-part” mold.

The following are the steps I took to create the first Baby dolphins.