Make Latex Skin Over Carved Foam

As an alternative to casting (making a shape from a mold) one can carve foam into a desired shape and then coat the foam with liquid latex. This will not create a perfectly smooth surface, but is much less expensive than casting as it requires fewer steps and less resources.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• latex
• foam
• skin
• monster
• costume
• liquid
• acrylic
• color
• tint
• make
• create
• paint
• prosthetic

[dogface701]

does the paint have to be water soluble or will any paint work?

[gryphern]

@dogface701 Oil paint will make the latex "go bad" faster. Oil degrades latex. (Certain parties may recall the sage admonitions of their Sex Ed. teacher about latex and water based lubrication.) Enamel paints will color it, but won't mix as nicely. Acrylic paint is really the best.

[Ryuzakisenpai]

will this work on more rigid carving foam as well?

[gryphern]

@Ryuzakisenpai PT 1 I think that depends on how you cut the foam and its qualities. Latex needs texture to cling to, or it will pull away from a surface. So if you use a hot wire to cut blue foam you will have to rough up the melted foam or "stipple paint" by dabbing a very thing layer on with a dry brush to start. Once you have your first coat your next coats will stick perfectly. You can also use plastic products... see next post...

[gryphern]

@Ryuzakisenpai PT 2 I've played with StyroSpray as a hard plastic coating to rigid foam and been very happy with it. It will last longer, and still has some "give" to it, so it won't dent when bumped. Googel it and order a sample square to mess with. If you want to make soft textured sculpture, you might want to try molding expanding polyurethane. I've really liked it, but it required the extra molding steps.

[partyhatpker]

What brand name latex are you using in this video? I'm making a big monster costume out of foam and I'm trying to figure out what to make the 'skin' out of. Latex seems ideal, but I want to make sure it's not $15 for a 4 oz. bottle.

[gryphern]

@partyhatpker I use costume latex, Mehron, Ben Nye or Graftobian brand (Graftobian is too thin for a first coat on foam.) HOWEVER you may find artist's latex, sold through art supply and fetish specialty stores, to be cheaper and more vivid. I wouldn't use artist's latex on skin, but the foam won't mind extra ammonia--just use lots of ventilation as you work. Amaco brand is sold by the gallon, as are many others. (I find Amaco to be very smooth, I use it for pottery resists.) MANY brands.

[MasterXcon]

Thanks! I'm making latex rocks and never thought of coloring the latex by mixing it with my paint .

[MIGUEL2005LIMA]

excellent idea

[pistolholder]

What if you can't find liquid latex but can find Krylon latex spray?

If I spray a lot, will it act like liquid latex?

[cotton509]

u got amonia latex :o get acters i belive it doesnt contain amonia