Mushroom Castings

In memory of my close friend, amateur mycologist Joseph Piecuch, I have been making cast metal sculptures of some of his favorite mushrooms. I began with the classic red and white spotted Fly Agaric/Amanita Muscaria, and the psychedelic Psilocybe Azurescens that grows at Ft. Stevens State Park on the Oregon Coast where he worked as a park ranger.

Amanita Muscaria

CAD - 3D print - Silicone mold - wax cast

I downloaded a file of a 3D scan of an Amanita Muscaria, and modified it using MeshMixer and Solidworks in order to separate the part into two pieces with an interconnection for easier casting. Both parts were printed in PLA. After post-processing parts I made a 2 part silicone mold in order to cast wax mushrooms. Sprues, runners and pour cups were then attached to the wax positive so that a plaster mold could be made for metal casting. 2018.

• 3D CAD file manipulation and creation

• 3D printing (FDM) and post processing

• Silicone mold making

• wax casting

• prep for lost wax metal casting

Psilocybe Azurescens

clay sculpture - silicone mold - lost wax brass cast

I first sculpted the PA with modeling clay, and then made a silicone mold from that original. From the silicone mold multiple plastic and wax positives were cast. 12 wax mushrooms were cast in brass using lost wax casting method. 2016

• clay sculpting

• silicone mold making

• lost wax brass casting

• post casting processing and finishing

• chemical patina application