Experimenting with surface treatments

[anundine]

The first round of crystals are out, cured, sanded, and ready for further messing about with. My previous post discussed my options for lighting-- drilled holes, clear rods, or mostly translucent crystals-- and I have firmly settled on the last as yielding the most even diffusion with the lowest error margin.

Now, when the resin comes out of the molds, the surface is tacky and needs an extra day to cure the rest of the way. This opens up the opportunity to brush colored powders onto the surface for a more vibrant color. The downside here is that I’ve found that sanding the crystals once they’re all the way cured gives the best look re: clean facets, no bubbling, but that gets rid of most of the surface coloring except in patches, making it useless for more ephemeral or translucent colors. However, when opaque colors like gold are brushed on and partially sanded away, it gives a very nice effect, sort of like half-flaked gilding.

 

As a bonus, sanding makes the surface slightly rough—rough enough that I can apply inks and watercolors in washes, including metallic watercolors. It’s important they are on the thicker side, as too much water makes them prone to beading on the surface. Using a combination of brush, finger, and rag, I can add a lot of shading and visual interest to the crystals, which is what I've done in the above picture, defining the edges while deepening color. Clear gloss seals the watercolors and brings back the shine sanding took away, a nice twofor.

Comments

[schneefink]

Starry nightsky-colored, beautiful :)

[anundine]

I hadn't even noticed, but you're right, they look like they hold galaxies. Thank you :)