Painting on Latex?

[Skaught]

I was thinking about building a "wearable prop" head, making it out of plastic and foam. I call it that instead of a mask since it will pretty much sit on top of my head rather than over it. Anyway, I've worked with latex on my Zuckuss tubes and other parts, brushing it on over bumpy tape to make an organic looking tube. The point was to look rough an bumpy.

Can I do the same thing over a smooth foam surface and have the latex look smoother, like skin? It doesn't have to be perfect, but I don't want it to look like slopped on **** either. Just wondering if others have worked with latex like this.

Scott

 

[dropshipbob]

From hanging around on the Hunters Lair I have gathered that they usually add a layer of paint using a roller and then air brush any fine details.

If the latex you are going to paint on top of is going to be flexing alot, you'll have to add something called "Prosaide" to the paint so that it can flex and not peel off the latex surface.

 

[piehead]

one of the best methods for painting latex and more durable than pros aise / acrylic is to first make a base paint from a mix of rubber cement and universal tints or oil paint that is then thinned with naptha. this bites into the latex and provides a nicely primed surface that you can then just use inks such as f.w. inks over. it will not crack flake or peel and is pretty much the proffesional f.x. shop way of painting latex. the pros aide / acrylic type paints known as pax are best suited to prosthetic pieces ( not silicone though)

 

[hankey01]

All I did for my latex yoda head was mix a little acrylic paint into liquid latex and diluted it with water. I airbrushed it on.

Worked great.

 

[TheSt.LouisKid]

one of the best methods for painting latex and more durable than pros aise / acrylic is to first make a base paint from a mix of rubber cement and universal tints or oil paint that is then thinned with naptha.

Sounds similar to a method used at a makeup effects shop I worked at in the early '90's...particularly the rubber cement. I used to know the recipe but being young I didn't write it down. The rubber cement stretches and moves with the rest of the latex and doesn't flake off like paint that hardens on the surface.

 

[piehead]

I dont realy think there is a fixed formula realy. i mix by eye. adding tint to cement then thinning until it runs through the airbrush. must add, wear a respirator when using this stuff. not good on the lungs to be breathing the stuff in.

 

[Howlrunner]

I think everyone seems to be being misled by the thread title. I don't think Skaught wants to know how to paint colours on top of latex, I believe that he's after information about applying latex to foam with a paintbrush (literally painting on the latex), and whether or not it would leave a smooth finish.

Wish i could be more help but I don't have experience of this.

 

[E-Wan]

I just took a class where we sculpted masks out of furniture foam, then painted over the foam with latex and layers of cheesecloth. After a couple of layers of cheesecloth, you add some pigment to the latex and start doing a "color coat" over the top.

The finish retained some of the grain of the cheesecloth, but the more layers of color that you put over the top, the less grain you could see.

 

[Mutant-Enemy]

Here's my two cents though the bulk of my experience is slip-cast latex prosthetics, gelatin prosthetics and silicone.
Check out smooth-on products. Not only do they have an exstensive line of "brush on" materials but exstensive tutorials are available at You Tube for just about every one of them.

 

[Skaught]

I think everyone seems to be being misled by the thread title. I don't think Skaught wants to know how to paint colours on top of latex, I believe that he's after information about applying latex to foam with a paintbrush (literally painting on the latex), and whether or not it would leave a smooth finish.

Wish i could be more help but I don't have experience of this.

Yes, this is what I meant. Sorry for the poor wording. By using the word "painting" I meant "applying" the latex to a base material of carved foam.

What I want to do is make a Hammerhead mask. My idea is to make a base "skeleton" out of plastic cut and bent to the right shape, then spray on and carve foam to get the right shape. The final step would be to apply the latex to give it a smooth, skin like surface. I will affix this to a hard hat of some kind that I can strap to my head (you see through fabric in the "neck" area). I thought about attach straps to the plastic section that would go down to my shoulders, to keep it from falling forward.

I have a bunch of latex left over from make my Zuckuss parts, but all of that was made intentionally bumpy and rough. I colored that by mixing in an acryllic paint directly to the latex, then applying other shades to the dried material. That worked great. I just haven't tried to make a smooth surface. My gut tells me this will work, and from what others have said it sounds like it will as well.

 

[ptgreek]

try spraying a base coat of plasti-dip over the foam. it should give you the smoother effect you are coing for. Wear a respirator when using it ( nasty stuff) then apply paint mixed with 10% latex ( balloon latex) mixed with the desired acrylic color. I thing by just painting liquid latex on, you will still get some texture...the spray plasti will start a smooth base. I've tried it for some predator parts and it worked great right over the foam

 

[Eopie Herder]

Are you familiar with the band Gwar? This is what they did to make their costumes. Foam coated with latex. The less porous the foam, the smoother it will be. And use a thin latex, thick stuff like the mold builder type you find in most craft stores will not be as smooth.

 

[CB2001]

Here's a bald cap tutorial from Indy Mogul, who use the foam and latex method to create it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pat8SS06-0M

 

[frightzone_4_you]

This place sells supplies for latex mask & other FX : THE MONSTER MAKERS

 

[frightzone_4_you]

Try: www.monstermakers.com