
Speaking of next time, I've begun my next prop, which will be a bubonic plague victim. Not quite despatched to the nether lands, but not completely of this world still, the plague victim will be a shrunken shell of his former self. To that end I've been practicing new mache techniques using flour and water rather than glue and water. I've got to admit it holds fast and firm and is a lot cheaper than using white glue (I do add a little glue to the mix though).
This is the mache recipe used by Stolloween, though his also calls for liquid starch. Scott uses a brand called Sta-Flo, but being cheap I prefer making my own. Homemade liquid starch is very simple to make: 1/2 cup corn starch, 1/2 cup cold water (mix it together just as if you were trying to thicken a gravy) and add it to about 2 cups of boiling water. When it cools it should stay clear but you've got enough liquid starch to add to your mache recipes.
You'll also recall from prior posts that after my first foray into using Stolloween's cellulose insulation clay, I wasn't that enthused. However, I've persevered using it on several other occasions and the technique is growing on me. I just used it to build up the (shrunken) facial features of my plague victim and I used it to help create the features of my pumpkin creep character.
But I have completed the first layer of paint on my creep and once that's dry I will "brown wash" him to again give him an earthier, organic look.
So with the props I've built recently -- the Acolyte, the wall climber, and the pumpkin creep -- they still need to be painted and waterproofed, but they are largely complete. I want more, more, more! but I'm actually satisfied with how thing have progressed. And with a new make-and-take scheduled for September 25th, I'll finally finish my flying crank ghost. The main structure was built months ago, but the actual "ghost" and the frame to fly it from has been put off. That will be rectified this month. Still, so much to do so little time.
I really like what you have going here. Nice job on the pumpkin and the ghoul. For what it's worth, the cloth mache is much easier of you use old cloth. I find old bedsheets work the best, the older and more worn the better. Many times these are the cheapest one in Thrift stores. Also, don't dilute the glue for that step (in case you are). Good luck. What fun projects!
ReplyDeleteDan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the encouragement! While I don't think you're going to have to worry about me challenging your terrific monster creations anytime soon, in a short period of time I have come to really like and appreciate this medium. I plan to use it on a lot more projects in the future (all of them?) and I suspect my technique will improve over time.
The sheets I've been using are older, though I guess not particularly threadbare. I actually got them through a site called freecycle where people post items they no longer need and are willing to give them away. I put out a call for old, used bedsheets and got quite a pile in return (FWIW, I've also gotten a beautiful grandfather clock, an antique barrister's bookcase, and an original (working) Craftsman lathe and carving tool set from the 1950's from the site and all for free).
I can't recall if I diluted the glue, though I think only slightly if I did. I'll keep that in mind though when macheing my plague victim's head. Your book was a terrific inspiration as is your site. Thanks for topping by and reading.
Rich