Gargoyles

The Gargoyles were constructed in 2012 prior to a group class with Rocky Mountain Haunters
where we learned to make and use egg carton paper mache clay.

I created the armature from PVC that runs all the way through the base at the arms and rear end for permanency.

The torso is made from square 1-gallon water bottles. The arms and legs are made using plastic water bottles in various sizes.

PVC is run through the structure to attach the wings to.
After the bottles are all attached to the PVC frame with masking tape, they are stuffed and wrapped with plastic shopping bags to the desired bulk. More masking tape is then added to hold it all in place.

I used cardboard as the basic structure for the nose, ears, and mouth.

I cut out the basic wing shape from cardboard. I then wet the cardboard draped it over water bottles to let them dry in a curved shape.

With the wings in the desired form, I threaded them with hanger wire to maintain the shape and add rigidity, and also, to add the appearance of veins.

I made a paper mache mixture using cardboard egg cartons and ModPodge.

Here is my husband, Blake, applying paper mache to the wings.

I made the hands by wrapping strips of newspaper around hanger wire.

Here is a close-up of the hand once the paper mache was used to build up the fingers and knuckles.

I used the paper mache to form the muscle structure

More sculpting showing the veining in the wings and the skeletal back ridges.

The paper mache portion is now complete.

I decided after the body was finished to incorporate a fog-breathing effect and added a hose to run up from the base, up through the body and out of the mouth.

I use Sculpey Clay to form the facial features of the gargoyles.

The face takes on more shape.

The eyes really bring it to life.

I filled in the mouth, added the tongue and added prosthetic teeth and plastic fangs.

I used a sculpting tool to etch the fine features into the facial expressions.

The bases are built using 2x4's, 3/4" plywood.

I added mouldings and trims.

Primed and ready for paint.

I wanted to add some decorative accents to the base. However, I needed 16 and because the pricing of the wooden scrollwork was very expensive, I created a mold (ComposiMold) for the paper mache mixture to replicate the piece I purchased.

Here is the finished embellishment from the ComposiMold

The pieces coated with texturized spray paint

This was at about 1:30 PM on Halloween day. My daughter, Alyssa, and I were rushing to get the antiquing completed in order to finish the props for display.