Making Latex Puppet Shoes

This is using basic slush casting with liquid latex to make hollow, flexible shoes for stop motion puppets. I cheat and sculpt one shoe for both left and right - the puppets don't seem to mind. Ordinary casting plaster will do, but I used Hydrostone. Many props can be made by casting in liquid latex. Be sure to use mould release - clay and water works well - on the flange of the mould, where plaster meets plaster, but not on the inside - the plaster needs to absorb the moisture out of the latex so it leaves a thickened skin on the surface.
Thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the music, from his Incompetech site. This piece is Padanaya Blokov.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• stop motion
• puppets
• shoes
• latex
• moulds. animation

[FandSproduction]

That's cool! How does it become hallow? Does the liquid only dry around the surface of the mold inside and is then drained?

[StopmoNick]

@FandSproduction

Yes - that's how it works.

[kurzalmovies]

Thanks for tutorial. Great!

P.S. About music. In fact it's a russian folk song "Korobeiniki" :)

[StopmoNick]

@kurzalmovies

Interesting... It's on Kevin MacLeod's site, identified as his work. It does have a very authentic Russian sound, and was half-familiar, so perhaps he based it on that?

[StopmoNick]

@kurzalmovies

Just listened to a couple of versions, and you're right! It's his arrangement and performance but the tune is Korobeiniki.

[gatometalico]

outstanding as always will be in my mind

[DutchDPfan]

Great tutorial, thank you! I've just started to try and make a pair of shoes with this method, but I can't find out what exactly you do to make the second part of the mold removable from the first one? You write about mold release with water and clay in the description but in the video it's going so fast that I can't really see what you do there, I don't see any clay there... Hope you can explain, thanks already!

[PurplePath]

Thanks for simple and awesome tutorial!

[Vortex42]

Superb, as ever, Nick! :)

[justiggity]

awesome tutorial man!!!!!

[johndods]

"I cried because my puppet had no shoes - until I saw a puppet that had no feet". Thanks Nick for another very excellent tutorial - the clarity, brevity, and entertainment value of these shorts is much appreciated!

[blobofblue]

that's a lot of work 0_o

[B3RS3RK3R666]

Thanks Nick to share that.

It looks pretty easy seeing you doing it, hehe. =)

[1BigLebowski]

That's a great idea. Thanks!