Testing...Testing...1...2...3.

This week, I finally had the time to test out some of the ideas I've been pondering for several weeks - can I heat acrylic so that it takes the shape of the folded surface, and how thick can the acrylic be? What will create a more interesting contrast with concrete; opaque or transparent acrylic? Will the vacuum forming machine be able to cope with the depth of a cube and how much surface detail will it hold? If I add lines of strata to the vertical surfaces of my cubes will they 'fight with' and detract from the upper folded surface, or compliment it? If I use Stuart Semple's Black 3.0 on a plaster cube will the vertical sides disappear and the surface appear to 'float'?
The results of all these tests were mixed, some unsuccessful, some unexpected and one was far too successful (the vacuum machine). Posed questions were often answered in an unexpected way or created results that led my thoughts off in new and unexpected directions.

Disappointing. Thin opaque acrylic with a heat gun - lacking in folded detail. Would work better if heated and compressed between male/female moulds.

The vacuum machine was so efficient it took over 30 minutes of hard work before I could eventually remove the concrete cube from the plastic.

Finally! Three sides were split to release the cube.

Levitating cube with Stuart Semple's Black 3.0 on plaster.

More depth was create when it was placed onto a board painted in the same paint. Like velvet or flocking it steals the light.

Heating acrylic to take the shape of the underlying surface = failure. But, heating it enough to distort the surface of the acrylic and cause it to bubble and blister - a beautiful unexpected side effect.

Using molochite, instead off sand, led to an off-white concrete which was brittle when first removed from the mould. The strata lines in this test piece work well with the angular surface.Next step will be to paint Stuart Semple Black 3.0 into one of the grooves to assess the effect.