One of the 'chess heads' commissioned for a student at Wimbledon College of Art for her third year project. The other one is a bishop.

Constructed from plasterzote. I start with a simple plasticine sculpt - this one started as a 10cm tall tear drop shape. Then you create a pattern from it by covering it with strips of masking tape then marking where to cut it so that you can create a flat net of the shape. Once flat and on paper I've found the easiest way to enlarge it accurately is by scanning it in and using photoshop. (avoiding spending 40mins in the photocopiers and having the assistant confuse you because she's trying to help, but the best thing she could do to help is just to back off and leave me to it).

Then you cut out your pattern and transfer it to the plasterzote, which is like a really dense, flexible foam. Once together I enforced the teardrop inside so that when I cut the 'mouth' slot, it wouldn't use its shape. The rest was just working things out as I went along. cover in muslin and pva then paint.

I have lots of plasterzote left over so I'm trying to come up with something good to make. Maybe something for a 'standard' at festivals, so I can see my tent from a far? It'll just get nicked though.