Process of Creating the Kit Cropper Displays
by Warren Cropper
Because of the labor-intensive techniques used to design, mold, cast and
finish each new piece, our production is very limited. We try to design and
release 6-10 new pieces a year, and the number we can produce of each design
is also limited.
The steps involved to create each new design go something like this:
1. Sculpting
Kit sculpts/builds the original using a variety of materials: wood, matt board, paper clay, real tree-bark, tree roots, cork, paper, and small stones. This process can take anywhere from several days to several weeks, depending on the complexity of the piece.
2. Making a latex mold
I brush latex over the original in very thin coats, eventually creating a thick layer of latex. This usually takes 7-10 days.
This picture shows the latex mold for Mouse Manor.
3. Making the "mother mold"
I pour a silicone rubber mold over the latex mold. I then pour a plaster
"mother mold" over all, de-mold the original and vulcanize the latex. The
entire molding process from start to finish takes approximately 2 weeks.
The plaster and silicone mother mold for Mouse Manor:
4. Casting
The piece is then cast in hydrostone by me and cleaned by Kit. A week of
drying time is required before the painting/finishing process can start.
This is a picture of the hydrostone Mouse Manor cast, fresh from the mold.
5. Painting
Kit applies the color in a series of washes, done with different shades
of thinned down acrylic paint , building up the color one layer at a time.
All of the color washes are applied with a sable brush, working slowly and
carefully over the piece. Between each "wash", the piece has to have time
to thoroughly dry. The end colors that you see on the piece result from
layers of many different washes applied one at a time.
Unlike ordinary painting where an opaque layer of paint is applied to the
surface, Kit's technique allows the paint to penetrate the hydrostone, one
thin "watery" layer at a time. The building-up of these layers of color
create a rich blend and variety of shades which adds a subtleness and
complexity to the painting. Because the hydrostone cast will always vary
somewhat in density and porosity, no two pieces will ever be painted exactly
alike. This has the effect of making each piece a "one-of-a-kind."
6. Varnishing
Kit then applies 3 finishing coats of a water-based varnish (using a
sable brush) and then she signs and dates each piece.
Here is a photo of Kit applying the finishing coat of varnish on the Mouse Manor. She likes to do this outside on nice days and I like to
sneak up on her with my camera"
Finished Mouse Manor Display
