Artists can use plaster of Paris to make sculptures, crafts and sets for plays, films and television productions. Builders can work with this substance as a quick-dry cement, in fire-proofing walls and in fashioning stucco exteriors. Art students from kindergarten to college learn manipulate plaster with tools for projects and designs. You can decrease the density of plaster of Paris in one of two ways.
Instructions
1. Fill your mixing bowl or bucket about half-way with cold water. The amount you use will depend on what you plan to do with the plaster of Paris. For instance, if you want to build a small sculpture, use a two-gallon bucket and about a gallon of water. If you intend to use plaster of Paris to coat the exterior of a wall or surface (for the creation of a stucco design), use a smaller amount, because the plaster will dry before you can apply all of it.
2. Add plaster of Paris to the water. Slowly pour some of the plaster mix into the water by grabbing a handful of it and sifting it through your fingers. You want to add the plaster in such a way that it sits on top of the water and does not sink down beneath the liquid's surface. Add just enough plaster so you can make your intended product; any leftover amount will harden too quickly and you will not be able to store it for future use.
3. Stir the mixture gently to blend the water and plaster. You can use your hands or a wooden mixing spoon.
4. Make the plaster less dense by adding more water. Keep adding water until you achieve the desired consistency. Follow this step if you do not want to use polystyrene beads or if you plan to use the plaster in thin layers to coat a surface.
5. Decrease the density of the plaster by adding polystyrene beads. Follow this step if you plan to make a sculpture. Stir the beads into the mixture until you have distributed them evenly.
6. Stir the mixture until you are ready to use it. If you plan to make a sculpture, pour the plaster into the mold. If you're going to use the plaster to coat a surface, begin applying it at this point.
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