Solution for Acrylic Paint Drying Too Fast

Q: I like to paint with acrylics, but as soon as they are mixed they seem to dry out. What can I do?

Bronze Look for Plaster

Q: I know there is a process to make plaster objects look like bronze. How is it done?

Surface Treatments for Ceramics

Q: I’m making some ceramic sculpture and I don’t want to glaze it, I want to treat the surfaces differently. What can I do?

Concrete Textures

Q: I’m interested in experimenting with concrete to get different surface effects than the usual boring cast concrete look. Any suggestions?

Direct Concrete without Casting

Q: How could I make sculpture directly in concrete, without having to go through modeling a form, making a mold, and casting the concrete?

Gold Leaf

Q: How do you use gold leaf? What is the difference between gold leaf and composition leaf? Are there any metallic paints that closely simulate the look of leaf?

Making Paint

Q: I want to make my own paints from dirt, rocks, vegetables, spices, etc. I have seen paint make from colored dirt by adding a little white glue and some water. Is this going to work with everything?

Making Figures with Polymer Clay (Sculpy)

Q: I want to make some figures in Sculpy. Can I use a wire armature, and if so, what gauge is best? Can I add new clay to a part that’s been baked? And will it take paint?

Coloring the Reactive Metals

Q: How does one go about coloring the reactive metals like titanium, niobium, or tantalum? Aside from grinding and polishing the metal surface first, what do I need to do to get those iridescent colors I’ve seen?

The Concrete FAQ—Concrete Casting

Dan Spector reveals the secrets for successful concrete castings using this versatile and inexpensive material. This article covers the following topics: concrete defined, Portland cement, aggregate mix, cement proportions, water content, rock size and molds, drypacking, mixing, additives and special mixes, use of rebar, surfactants and vibrators, hardening and curing, tinting and washing, decorative treatments, staining and painting.

The Water-Gilding FAQ—The Traditional Gold-leafing Process

Wies Norberg provides information on this traditional method of achieving a brilliant gold finish on sculptural surfaces. This article covers the following topics: a general introduction, gesso, applying bole, handling leaf, applying leaf, burnishing.