Thanks for the compliment! You have set me a challenge now ryanlamprecht
, as I made these about three years ago when I did Haunted Hospital and been using them for different props each year since. I have had to raid my very large craft box and go through my mountain of scribbled notes, as if I find some paint effect or craft that works it gets scribbled down so I know if I need it again, but they are by no means in any sort of order!
. I used the same effect on skulls, masks, bones all kinds of things the main thing is you have to have patience with this one, so here goes:
1.Firstly give the plastic hand/arm whatever you are painting a good wash with water. I find it easier if you do all the arms, hands, legs whatever you are painting all at the same time. That way, as you are doing each layer of paint, by the time you get to the last one, the first one has already dried as you are using such small amounts of paints, then you are ready to start the nest one.
2.Then make up a mix of flour and water to the consistency of a very thick wallpaper paste (that won't run off) and apply it to all the areas that you want to raise the skin, such as ends of fingers, wound areas (eg the wound running down little finger, graze on palm near thumb,fingertips) or veins. I have tried using latex etc for this, but had difficulty getting it to stick and to paint over.
3.As it starts to set groove out any parts that you want to look like a deep wound, I just use the end of a knife for this, then let this completely set hard
4.Then using a sponge (make-up sponges are the best as they are soft) start by dappling on a base of white acrylic paint using a very small amount to give a light covering but enough to get rid of the orange plastic colour (I use Crawford & Black and Crafters Choice Acrylic Paints but don't know if this available in US) let this dry
5.Then start to build up your layers of colour, again using the sponge and a very small amount of paint begin with a warm grey applying it to the wrist, towards the end of the fingers and lightly across the palm, leaving some of the white showing through, allow to dry
6. Using a sponge again, I then use a yellow ochre and fawn to add that kind of skin effect that you see on the palm and fingers, you can apply this as light or dark as you want, allow to dry
7. I then go onto a paint called Red Wine it gives a more kind of congealed look to the blood, dappling with sponge across the palm and fingers or where you want, I then use a brush to add a thicker amount to the wound parts or where you want the blood to look a deeper shade, allow to dry
8. Next to the black, use a really, really small amount of this on the sponge and dabble where you want to get that kind of dirty look (eg on the last two fingers and down the wrist) allow to dry
9. Finally using a Sharpie permanent black fine liner just go over any areas you want to emphasize (eg the creases of the skin on the joins in the fingers or nail edges)
10. If you wanted the blood to look more fresh, I have put some drops of fake blood on the wounds on the night, just depends how old you want it to look
The main thing with this is to use each layer of paint sparingly, as the plastic hands already have the skin creases, veins, nail edges etc on them you don't want the paint to be that thick that you loose them. It really is just a case of building up the paint layers until you get the look you want. If you want more skin tones use more yellow ochre, if you want them more de-composed looking you could bring in some green and blue shades. I hope this makes sense, and you will have a go with them. I got the hands and legs in the Pound Store so really were a cheap way of creating this look, they have been used in our Thriller Re-Make, on some sea battered Pirates last year and will be going in the Creepy Carnival this year
