When I first began thinking seriously about offering body casting, I was fascinated by its artistic possibilities. The idea of preserving the lines of a real body - not an idealised one, but a body shaped by life, time and experience - felt deeply meaningful to me.
But beauty alone would never have been enough to convince me.
What ultimately gave me the confidence to offer this experience was learning about the quality and safety of the materials involved. I needed to know exactly what I would be applying to another person’s skin. I needed to feel certain that the artistic result would never take priority over the person whose story I was preserving.
That principle still guides every decision I make in the atelier today.
Materials chosen for professional medical settings
All the casting materials we use carry certification for medical applications. The same types of specialist materials are routinely supplied to and used in orthopaedic and orthodontic practices, where quality, consistency and suitability for close contact with the body are essential.
"For me, this is not simply a technical detail. It is one of the foundations of trust."
During a body casting session, the material must capture delicate contours with precision, but it must also be appropriate for its intended contact with the skin. I would never choose a product merely because it was less expensive, easier to obtain or more convenient to work with. The standard of the finished sculpture begins with the standard of everything used to create it.
You may never see the original containers or certification documents when you look at your completed artwork. Yet their quality is present in the sculpture, just as surely as the shape, finish and craftsmanship you can see.
An additional layer of care: the skin patch test
Even when we work with carefully selected, professionally certified materials, I never assume everyone’s skin will respond in exactly the same way. Every body is individual, and respecting that individuality is part of my responsibility.
That is why we do a small skin patch test before casting begins.
Whenever possible, I apply small samples of the products during an earlier consultation. This allows us to complete the test well before the casting appointment. If meeting in advance isn't practical, I carry out the test at the very beginning of the session, before we proceed with the cast.
My aim is to do this as early as possible, so that we have time to observe how your skin responds. Unexpected sensitivity is unlikely with the materials we use, but “unlikely” is not a reason to omit a sensible precaution.
The patch test is a quiet and simple part of the experience. It is not intended to create anxiety. Quite the opposite: it allows both you and me to continue with greater confidence, knowing that care has come before haste.
Your wellbeing is more important than the appointment
If the patch test indicates that your skin has responded differently from what we expected, we will not proceed with the casting.
There is no pressure to continue and no suggestion that you should simply accept discomfort for the sake of the artwork. Your wellbeing will always matter more than keeping an appointment in the diary.
If you have already paid a deposit for your body casting sculpture and the result of the patch test means that we cannot safely continue, your deposit will be returned in full.
I believe this is the only fair and responsible approach. You are placing your trust in us before the session begins, and our policies should reflect the same respect we promise in the atelier itself.
A procedure we will never abandon
We will never remove the patch test from our process simply to save time.
It offers an additional level of reassurance for our clients, and it also allows us to work responsibly and confidently. Safety is not created by one grand gesture. It comes from small, consistent decisions made before, during and after every appointment.
For the same reason, we remain attentive to the condition of every material in the studio. Products are stored carefully and in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements. Expiry dates are monitored, and no material is used beyond its intended period of use.
These practical details may take place quietly behind the scenes, but they are part of the artwork you ultimately receive. A beautiful result should never depend on shortcuts you were not able to see.
The kind of luxury I believe in
For me, true luxury is not excess. It is the feeling that nothing important has been overlooked.
It is knowing that the materials touching your skin have been chosen with the same care as the final colour and finish of your sculpture. It is knowing that your individual response will be respected. It is knowing that if we have any reason not to continue, your wellbeing will come first - without financial pressure or disappointment being placed on you.
When you enter our atelier, you are trusting us with something personal: your body, your story and a moment of your life that cannot be repeated. I want the materials we use, the way we prepare them and the precautions we take to be worthy of that trust.
"Because an artwork created to honour you should begin by taking care of you."
Dorothy