I finished the cradles for two new molds this evening so I could make these castings. The molds turned out true to form, no bubbles. In the photo they are the top and the bottom pugs. These castings are also the result of more color experimentation. They’re wet from getting scrubbed but this is what they’ll look like in the rain. Chocolate pugs. The color is probably more suited for my Labrador, Fleegle.
I started the mold making process today. This is the first coat of latex rubber. It takes about 20 coats plus a cellulose thickener. Depending on the temperature I can usually do two coats a day. Then I’ll need to make a cradle to hold the empty rubber mold in place when I use it to make a casting. The cradle for this one is going to be tricky. I’ve used plaster in the past, but this one might have to be part foam. I’ve ten days to figure it out.
I’m getting close to finishing. What’s left is smoothing out the tool marks and fingerprints. With the heatwave here in Oregon, the plastilina clay is really soft and sticky. I may have to make room in the fridge for it so it’ll harden up for the next step. 
I’ve never sculpted the whole pug before, just the heads and faces. This is a work in progress. I’ve only roughed in where things go as I work on getting the proportions right. Proportions come first, then details. Why spend a lot of time on the paw’s pads and claws if it turns out the paw is too small to start with and needs to be sculpted bigger, right? So I ask all of you, how are my proportions so far?
Gnawing the Bone 