She Kills Monsters- PC: Ariel Lacey
Hand Props, Puppets and More
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Landshark Puppet
Ohio University Production of She Kills Monsters 2020
This project began as a plywood frame that ratan was secured to, creating a lightweight frame for the puppeteer. The form was then draped with muslin to create a pattern for a microcell skin layer. Foam was added for skin texture and a layer of dyed spandex was added for the top skin layer. A combination of spray paint and acrylic paint were used for the paint treatment. The eye is painted and shaped EVA with a heated and shaped plexiglass that is tinted yellow with FEV. The head is attached to a backpack using aluminum straps.
Photo Credit: Ariel Lacey
Side Profile
Front Profile
Eye made of EVA and painted. Plexiglass was heated and shaped to the eye and tinted yellow with FEV
Top layer of skin is dyed spandex with additional foam for skin texture details
Muslin was draped on the ratan frame and used as patterns for the 1/4" microcell skin layer
Ratan frame to keep monster lightweight for puppeteer
Temporary plywood frame used to attach ratan to
Medusa Foam Carving
This project began as layed up blue foam. For the head I mapped out the most exterior points on the profile and front view and cut it out on the bandsaw. I then mapped out the front, back and profile of the body and used a hot knife to rough in the shape. Next I used a snap knife, rasp, files, and sandpaper to shape out the person. On the face I used Apoxie Sculpt to accent her features. I used green glue to attach her head, did additional shaping to make it more seamless then paper mached the whole form with tissue paper. The snakes are 1” EVA foam sheets that were shaped and rounded with a Dremel, given Warbla Features, with wire running through the middle to aid with shaping once applied. The snakes were connected using Contact Cement and Buckram was applied with Mod Podge to give additional texture. Medusa was PlastiDipped, primed, and painted with acrylics using a wet blended base, sponging, spatter paint, and washes to create a stone texture.
Severed Head
This project was for a production of Macbeth at Ohio University and had a one week turnaround. The base is green foam that I traced the actor’s front and profile view onto and cut on the bandsaw to get the exterior points. I then shaped in the facial plane with a rasp and sandpaper. I used spoons for the eyes and went over the mouth, nose, and eyes with Apoxie Sculpt to further capture the details of the actor’s face. The ears are EVA foam shaped with a Dremel. Once paper mached, I primed the head and painted the base layer of details with acrylic paint. The hairline is a strip of ventilated wig and the rest of the hair is layered strips of 3 other wigs to match hair coloring. Once the hair was secured I did another round of detail painting. I created skin flaps around the neck using latex. The blood touches are FEV using red and blue leather dye.
Actor Reference of Michael Dias Make-up done by Hannah Lunt Costume Design by Sara Keller
Final
Final
Head Pre-blood
Eye Close-up
Process picture of layering and attaching hair
Initial base paint treatment
Final head base with Apoxie Sculpt and paper mache
Early stage of shaping head
Armature Spider Puppet
I began with armature wire and twisted lengths together for stability. I took four pairs varying lengths based on my drawings and made them into 8 legs connected in the center and secured with floral wrap and baked clay. I built a wire frame for the body around the central point of the legs and secured it inside. I added a thin layer of sculpy clay to the frame and let it Harden, avoiding joints. I took a yarn meant to to make dish scrubbers and wrapped the entire form. I painted texture and shadows and attached the Apoxie Sculpt eyes and pinchers.
Castle Clock
This functional clock started by lathing the towers from poplar. The walls of the castle are masonite, the castle door is routed in, and the windows were cut out with a scroll saw. The towers were notched with the bandsaw to allow them to slot into the corners of the castle walls. The detailing is done with Worbla and thin EVA sheets. The base is poplar with routed strips of poplar applied to the edges. The top part, including the roof and tower tops, pops off to allow access to the clock battery and battery operated light inside. I used acrylic paint and glossy wood tone for the paint treatment and finished with a clear glossy seal.
Hand Mirror
This mirror is laid up Oak that was shaped with a 1/4” sander grinder. EVA was attached along the outside and a mirror was attached to the front using Contact Cement. From there the entire mirror was covered with Warbla, with all the details being sculpted from Warbla. The paint treatment is a mixture of acrylics and metallic India ink. The mirror was then coated with Epoxy Resin to make it shiny.
Finished Mirror Back Paint Treatment with acrylics and Metallic India ink
Finished Mirror Front
Details Sculpted from Warbla
Mirror Shaped from Oak with a 1/4" Sander Grinder
Combat Bone Staff
Bone staff is laid up Ash, roughly cut on the bandsaw and shaped with a 1/2” grinder. Once shaped, I went back with a Dremel and added carvings throughout the staff. It was then primed with sandal primer, stained and painted.
Snail Hand Puppet
The initial shape began as molded clay that was then patterned and scaled up 150% to create a pattern for the reticulated foam. The peanut shell is shaped wire covered in muslin and Press N’ Seal and then layered with paper mache. The skin is fleece I dyed using Rit that was then draped to the snail and sewed on. All paint treatment was done with acrylic paint.
Gallery Below of Fake Foods
From Tantrum Theatre Productions of The Cake, Next to Normal, and Rhinoceraus
All cakes are green foam attached with Green glue and shaped using the bandsaw and foam carving tools. Once shaped they were coated with Aquaresin and Sculpt or Coat. The icing is joint compound and acrylic paint.
The cupcakes are sculpted expanding foam.
The dinner is EVA strips and wire brushed for texture, painted and sprayed with glossy wood tone. The carrots are dowels that were rounded, painted, and covered with gloss. The mashed potatoes are green foam covered with joint compound mixed with fine sawdust with a hot glue butter square.
The Baguette is shaped upholstery foam covered in latex and treated with acrylic paint with plaster powder as flour.
Sculpted Green foam with joint compound icing
Dinner for production of Next to Normal
EVA beef tips wire brushed for texture. Shaped dowel rods for carrots that were painted and glossed. The mashed potatoes are sculpted green foam covered in a joint compound and sawdust mixture.
Cupcakes are shaped expanding foam with joint compound mixed with acrylic paint for icing
Wedding Cake for production of The Cake
Baguette shaped from upholstery foam. Plaster powder was used for the flour coating
Upholstery foam chocolate cake with joint compound icing for production of The Cake
Once on this Island God Rocks
The rocks began as cube frames with angular attachments that got a layer of purple foam that was then carved and shaped. They were then paper mached and painted.
Russian Nesting Doll
For a production of Holly Down in Heaven. The doll began as layed up green foam that was lathed, covered in four layers of fiberglass, sanded and primed then painted using acrylic paints. The Doll is hinged and has a clasp in the back so it can talk and function as a puppet.
Russian Nesting Doll for Ohio University production of Holly Down in Heaven
The back is hinged and has a wire clamp so it can be operated from the back to open and close the 'mouth' of the puppet
The fiberglass was primed with sandable primer and based white. The design is my own design
The mold was fiberglassed then hollowed out and sanded
The doll received four layers of fiberglass
The initial form is layed up green foam that was lathed into shape
Gothic Tracery Replica
This pattern was designed by me using historical references and motifs of Rose Windows in Cathedrals. The pattern is scaled to a 3’ diameter and cut out on 3/4” plywood using a jigsaw with a scroll blade.
Candles
The candles began as PVC pipe that was sanded down and primed. The bottom is sealed off and the top is fitted to hold an electronic candle. A ball was secured to the bottom so when the candle is placed in and pressed, the on/off bottom is activated allowing it to be actor controlled. From there, the candles were coated in several layers of candle wax, with hot glue used to create the drips. The symbols are hand painted on by me with acrylic paint.
Frozen Fish Bowl
The goldfish is shaped and painted green foam with card stock fins. The fishbowl has plexiglass and hot glue icicles and is misted with snow in can.
Dr. Suess Books
Book covers are painted on 4’x8’ sheets of green foam and scaled from reference photos.
