What am I doing with an ice ball maker, Popsicle molds, and a silicone ice cube tray if I’m not making ice? Pouring plaster forms, obviously.

I was originally looking for an easy way to cast spheres, and ended up adding all of the aforementioned items to my Amazon cart over the summer. After cleaning and reorganizing my studio last week, I decided to finally try out my new materials.

When setting up for one of my plaster pours, I always lay out my objects in exactly what position I want them and make sure they’re properly supported/stabilized so they won’t tip over and spill. Then I spray them with mold release, because there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to pry a piece of plaster out of its mold and snapping it in half (tough life lessons, folks). After that prep work is done, mixing and pouring the plaster goes quickly and all that’s left to do is wait for the plaster to set.

Since the ice molds I chose were flexible, the plaster released easily and had a satisfyingly smooth surface. The new forms relate nicely to each other and the ones already existing in my work, so I’m excited to brainstorm ways to incorporate them into larger pieces as the semester progresses.

Featured Image: Jill Sibio, 2018