2
Oct
Foam Tombstone Props for Halloween Roundup Part One
Foam Tombstone Props for Halloween Display Roundup – Part One
Here at Tom Spina Designs, it is probably not a surprise that we are huge Halloween fans. This post is a roundup of some recent foam tombstone prop creations! Over the last couple of years we have helped one incredible client create a completely unique and over the top Halloween display. Each year, we’ve expanded his large collection of life-size tombstone decorations, a a giant spooky tree, custom mausoleum, and this year… even a giant Time Portal that would fit right in at any theme park! This year’s props are LARGE! Some are over 6 feet tall!
Each Spring we start discussions and planning for that year’s new props and so that we have necessary few months to work on his themed foam props. This year, he requested some big names from 80’s movies and some classics like Nikola Tesla and Lizzie Borden!
Richard Riley, our lead foam artist, was given a free creative hand when it came to the look of each of these and dreamed up the style and details for each. Rich carved each or the headstone props in EPS foam, combining machine foam carving and classic, hand sculpting.
Once the foam sculptures were completed, a hard polyurea resin coating is added to provide durability so the pieces can remain outdoors for a few weeks during the annual Halloween season. And when applied just right, this hard coating adds a great stone-like texture to the large foam tombstone props. Rich painted each to for a hyper-realistic distressed and aging look. To look at them, you’d expect each of these giant headstones to weigh hundreds of pounds! The finished foam prop sculptures looked nearly indistinguishable from heavy stone grave markers.
UV paint treatments add another layer of story and fun to these props! It’s super-effective, because during the day or under normal lighting the UV reactive glow paint is practically invisible. It gave Rich the opportunity to sneak in some ghostly messages and references to the films and characters from the headstones. Once you put the pieces under blacklight, the paint glows and gives the tombstones and eerie and supernatural effect, perfect for a haunted Halloween cemetery in a theme park OR home haunt!
Do you need one of a kind custom foam props for your next event or party? Email or call today and let’s discuss your project!
Want to learn more about Rick Baker’s 40-plus-year journey as a special makeup effects artist?
