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Papier Mache Brush Technique

The Big 500

Welcome to my 500th post!

This blog celebrates the 500^th post since 2008, and while the breakdown of 100 posts per year is not particularly noteworthy it is worth acknowledging that 95% of the  posts are original content….my works in progress, obscure observations, simple tutorials and the exploration of things I find fascinating.

This blog is the informal companion to my anchor site www.stolloween.com which is home to my papier mache tutorials.

This blog has featured everything from my thoughts on making large papier mache trolls to instructions on making a three dimension DNA model for my son’s school science project. This site is very eclectic ranging from cool vinyl Halloween records found at the local thrift store to my thoughts on the latest horror film I saw in the theater.

ScottyArt is what it is…sort of my personal diary of what’s happening in my world….including my reviews (over-indulgence) of the seasonal pumpkin beers.

500 was fun…1,000 will be a riot.

Mighty Midland Mantis Complete

Completed Mantis Sculpture

Completed a 5 ½ foot tall praying mantis sculpture for the 2013 Summer Sculpture Series Downtown Midland. 

The big guy will be delivered this week and all things considered it was a very fun project. The “Mighty Midland Mantis” was constructed from ½ inch pieces of plywood that were designed to fit together using minimum hardware. 

The project was very much like assembling a large wood puzzle. 

Miniature version of the concept.

Assembly process of the Mighty Midland Mantis

Assembly process of the Mighty Midland Mantis

Assembly process of the Mighty Midland Mantis

Assembly process of the Mighty Midland Mantis

Assembly process of the Mighty Midland Mantis

Assembly process of the Mighty Midland Mantis

Assembly process of the Mighty Midland Mantis

Painting process.

The sculpture will be displayed in the downtown are of the city during June, July, August and September.

Java Style

My wife suggested I make some coffee cups for the studio using an idea she had seen on Pinterest. 

So I did. 

Basically you take a plain white coffee mug and draw a design using on the cup using a sharpie marker, then bake the cup in an oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees and let cool. 

Google the technique to get more detailed instructions.

 I have used the cups for over a month and they are holding up quite well although some of the black has rubbed off the cup I use almost everyday. 

Still a cheap and fun way to make some original mugs for yourself or a friend.

Zombie Texture by Design

There are always certain elements of a prop that sell the finished look such as the eyes, the hands, the teeth or in most cases a combination of various elements. The last few weeks I have created a number of zombie heads and the one element that helps to sell the look of these new props is the skin, or more precisely the texture of the undead flesh. This summer I’m offering a number of workshops where participants will build a severed zombie head from scratch. The workshop in intensive, 12 hours of classes spread over four nights each three hours long. During the third session we spend the time applying zombie skin using a variety of commonly found materials. Each material used for the rotting skin may not seem very convincing in its natural state but after being incorporated into the papier mache sculpture it produces a unique texture which after being painted and dry brushed will sell the concept of rotting zombie flesh. Some of the materials used to design zombie skin are:

-Paper Towels

-Shop Towels (heavy blue paper towels)

-Toilet tissue or Facial tissue

-Coffee filters

- Crept paper

-Plastic grocery bags

-Paper clay manipulated to look like raw flesh

Paper Towels soaked in papier mache paste then manipulated with a brush.

Plastic grocery bag after being heated with a heat gun.

Paper towel coated in papier mache paste with strands of unraveled twine.

Combination of toilet tissue and paper towels soaked in papier mache.

Paper towels soaked in papier mache paste.

Paper towels manipulated to look like tendons.

Paper Towels soaked in papier mache paste.

Each material yields a slightly different look and when combined work well to create a zombie head with convincing rotting flesh detail.

First 2013 Papier Mache Workshop-Zombies

The first papier mache workshop of the season starts next week....still plenty of time to sign up. 

STOLLOWEEN Studio is an inspired work space created for the sole purpose of bringing imagination to life through papier mache. In addition to being a working studio, the facility is also a classroom offering a variety of workshops allowing students to create projects from start to finish.

STOLLOWEEN Studio is open to anyone with a desire to create. Papier mache is a simple medium very capable of producing stunning results even for the first time user. The knowledge, experience and resources available in the studio are second to none.

-Instructor with over 30 years experience in television production and papier mache.

-Large, comfortable and well lit workspace.

-Comprehensive reference library including hundreds of books and publications.

-Gallery displaying many diverse papier mache projects.

-Well stocked equipment and material room.

Severed Zombie Heads

Papier Mache Workshop

Ever since I was a kid I loved zombies - I thought they were the best things ever and that was way before it was cool to like zombies.

Join us for four evenings of icky, sticky, rotted zombie building fun. Participants create their own life-sized severed zombie head using a variety of papier mache techniques and commonly found recycled items. During the workshop we will watch and discuss some classic zombie films, occasionally stopping to dissect some of our favorite scenes.

This unique experience is recommended for those 16 years and older. The workshops can be physically demanding requiring participants to stand, kneel,  lift and work in uncomfortable positions. Papier mache can be a bit messy so please dress accordingly. The class uses a variety of non-hazardous materials such as flour, glue and joint compound, as well as latex and acrylic paints.

Workshop cost is $100 per person which includes all tools and materials.

You are encouraged to bring your own drink and snack. No alcoholic beverages please.  Call (989) 750-6457 to register. Payment is due at the first class. Class size is limited to 8 seats. 

Severed Zombie Heads Workshop #1 

Tuesday, May 21^st. 6pm – 9pm

Thursday, May 23^rd. 6pm – 9pm

Tuesday, May 28^th. 6pm – 9pm

Thursday, May 30^th.  6pm – 9pm

Introducing Son of Buster

My entry for the HauntForum $20 Prop Challenge is a companion piece to my 2010 entry titled “Buster Gravesley.”

Buster Gravesley had a son named Buster.  Buster’s son was a gnarly surfer dude head banging sort of guy, always on the look out for the perfect wave. Unfortunately Buster Jr. met his end in the jaws of a Great White Shark and joined his father in the afterlife where he still raises Hell every chance he gets and never misses an opportunity to break free from the confines of his rotting grave. Like father, like son …. Meet Son of Buster.

The Son of Buster Prop was built almost entirely from recycled materials and papier mache. The prop features a mechanism which allows it to be manually operated. When operated the tombstone cracks in half revealing the Son of Buster creature lurking behind the tombstone. This piece had to be created for under $20 dollars so the hardware choices were economical, if you plan on building this I would suggest using additional material resulting in a sturdier prop (such as larger hinges, etc.). Son of Buster took approximately 30 hours to create over the course of a month. This was a fun build and there was a fair amount of experimentation and new techniques in regards to creating the head and the hands. The final prop stands about 3 ½ feet tall and is 2 feet wide.

Build a Zombie Head

The first 2013 papier mache workshops starts Tuesday, May 21^st from 6pm till 9pm. Four evenings of fun as participants create a severed zombie head completely from scratch all while watching and discussing some classic zombie films. 

Tuesday, May 21^st. 6pm – 9pm

Thursday, May 23^rd. 6pm – 9pm

Tuesday, May 28^th. 6pm – 9pm

Thursday, May 30^th.  6pm – 9pm 

This unique experience is recommended for those 16 years and older. The workshops can be physically demanding requiring participants to stand, kneel,  lift and work in uncomfortable positions. Papier mache can be a bit messy so please dress accordingly. The class uses a variety of non-hazardous materials such as flour, glue and joint compound, as well as latex and acrylic paints.

Workshop cost is $100 per person which includes all tools and materials.

You are encouraged to bring your own drink and snack. No alcoholic beverages please.  Call (989) 750-6457 to register. Payment is due at the first class. Class size is limited to 8 seats.

Visit www.stolloween.com for additional workshops.

New STOLLOWEEN Studio

Been busy the past month as we moved our passion for building papier mache Halloween props to a new studio space at 718 George Street in Midland, Michigan. The studio is open to the public and will serve as a classroom and my personal workshop. 

STOLLOWEEN Studio is an inspired work space created for the sole purpose of bringing imagination to life through papier mache. In addition to being a working studio, the facility is also a classroom offering a variety of workshops allowing students to create projects from start to finish.

STOLLOWEEN Studio is open to anyone with a desire to create. Papier mache is a simple medium very capable of producing stunning results even for the first time user. The knowledge, experience and resources available in the studio are second to none.

-Instructor with over 30 years experience in television production and papier mache.

-Large, comfortable and well lit workspace.

-Comprehensive reference library including hundreds of books and publications.

-Gallery displaying many diverse papier mache projects.

-Well stocked equipment and material room.

Our 2013 Summer Workshop schedule is posted here. Many fun and exciting papier mache workshops to choose from...gonna be a crazy summer!