ABOUT KINHAIN
Where the journey began
KinHain was born from the need to preserve the memory of my late grandparents. They built their Scottish home over fifty years ago and planted dozens of Maple trees in the extensive grounds.
My search for a way to preserve some element of their garden led me to discover 'bas relief'.
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'KinHain'
'Kin' is widely recognised as a word which refers to Family.
'Hain' was not known to me before now. While looking in the Chambers Thesaurus for words meaning preserve, I noticed 'hain' referenced under 'Scots' for preserve, perfect.
The Bas-Relief Process
Flowers, foliage, objects, are pressed into clay. Pictures and patterns can be drawn in the clay. Plaster is poured into a shaped mould/frame which surrounds the clay composition.
Once cured the clay is peeled away from the plaster to reveal a medium to low relief impression.
CASTING
Casting
With casting, like any other art form, there are variations on themes, compositions, tools, materials and techniques. The result is a product which is unique to a particular maker.
Every cast is individual, this is determined by the availability and range of foliage and flowers, and of clay and plaster used to cast with.
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I use four clays, all smooth -
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Standard studio throwing clay is grey in colour. It leaves a residue on the cast allowing some flexibility in the finish. This is good for a vintage or rustic look, it also allows the relief to pop from the plaster when given only a light clean.
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White clay leaves a very light residue giving a very subtle shadowing. This clay is best to use when the desired finish is a more contemporary, clean look which relies on light and shadow to enhance the relief.
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Black clay leaves a lovely residue which can have very striking results, although can be much less forgiving of even the smallest of imperfection.
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Terracotta clay leaves a lovely warm colour on the cast and can produce results similar to that of the studio and black.
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The clay is hand rolled till it is as flat and smooth as possible. The flowers are arranged and then pressed into the clay. The mould is set in place and surrounded by clay to seal the edges against leaks.
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The casts are made using fine casting plaster plus or crystacal, the latter being slightly stronger of the two. Both are added to water and mixed to a creamy consistency, the mix is then poured over the clay and left to dry and cure, during which time the cast becomes very warm to the touch.
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Once released from the mould, the cast is set aside to dry. After a few days I will clean off some, or all, of the clay residue. After a two-four weeks I will sand and finish the cast.
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Things you should know...
KinHain Terms & Conditions
Making a purchase is undertaken with the understanding the terms and conditions below have been read, understood and agreed. Should you have any questions prior to purchase please don't hesitate to get in touch - contact@kinhain.co.uk
Every stage of the casting process uses natural materials, with that comes an element of unpredictability. Every cast will have natural imperfections.
A note on packing materials. All packing is recyclable where possible, I do on occasion ‘reuse’ any good sturdy boxes from my own deliveries. Reusing is much more eco friendly, and also helps control postage and packing costs for a small business. Please let me know if you’d rather not have a reused box.
Returns
If you have any issues with your purchase please get in touch via contact@kinhain.co.uk
If we cannot resolve your issue we can go ahead with the return. As a new, small business customers are responsible for return costs. All items should be returned within 30 days, undamaged and in resaleable condition.
The casts are coated with a thin layer of acrylic varnish. This protects the cast from marking when touched.
The casts are not suitable for bathrooms, or places where there is a consistently high level of moisture. The casts are not suitable for outdoor use.
All frames used are new. They are sanded, primed and painted with several coats of colour, then finished with two/three coats of satin or matt varnish. The frames are sometimes altered to house the casts. KinHain cannot take responsibility for any damage to a cast, or injury to an individual attempting to remove a cast from a frame. We advise against this.
Each cast is individual, as is it's frame and how the frame will hang on the wall. A selection of example photos in the gallery show some of the backs of the pieces and how they might hang.
Every care has been taken to ensure all descriptions and measurements are accurate. Being hand-poured there will always be variations in the finish of the casts; the thickness, the surface detail and the colour. Some may look different colours on your computer/device, but I do try to take enough photos to accurately portray the works.
KinHain reserves the rights to all casts and their images on www.kinhain.co.uk and all social media accounts.