light up scultpure

[Izzy358]

hello,

I'm hoping someone with knowledge or experience in working with lights or electrics could help me please, my sister and I are planning a paper mache sculpture and we need it to look as if it is glowing from the inside, our plan is to make it basically like a paper mache lamp shade in the shape of a of a globe and put a light bulb inside, my questions are:

1. is this the most effective material? I think texture wise it will work for what we want but I mean will the light permeate the surface?
2.would there be a more suitable material?
3. if its paper could it potentially be a fire hazard? especially if left switched on for a few hours? would an LED light be safer?

any ideas would be much appreciated,
thanks,
Izzy

 

[Nasfat]

For lighting up something like that evenly I would use 20 lb white computer paper or white tissue paper for the paper mache, something pure white to help evenly diffuse the light. If you don't use too many layers of paper mache I think the light would shine through fine. As you said, use LEDs or LED strip lighting if you can, but if you were to only keep it lit for a little bit at a time with enough ventilation and if the sculpture is large enough (like an actual lamp shade) I think a CFL bulb would be ok too.

 

[Izzy358]

great thank you!