Applying a dark wash on a latex puppet?

JD TaggartJD Taggart ✭
in Puppets
I've been making a puppet along with the foam puppets course (which is incredible) and am nearly finished with it. I just want to make the texture on it pop a bit. I coated it with 3 layers of a roughly 50/50 mix of paint and mold builder liquid latex. I'm wondering for the wash, can I just water down some paint and give it a light coat and dry it off? Or should I try to seal it with something else first. Any input would be much appreciated. 

Thanks!

Comments

  • Kai RottmannKai Rottmann ✭✭✭✭
    Hey JD,

    for painting latex, you need a kind of glue for the paint. Otherwise it will not stick on the latex and it will come off easily- just water and paint will not be enough.
    You could mix a papercement wash and mix a little bit color in to create a wash.
    I highly recommend a class about how to paint a latex mask here at the SWSCA.
    These for example:
    Timothy Martin: https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/how-to-make-a-latex-rubber-mask-3-patch-paint-finish
    Casey Love and Tim Gore: https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/latex-mask-painting-techniques

    I hope that helps. Have fun and never stop creating ;-)

    Greets

    Kai

  • JD TaggartJD Taggart ✭
    Thank you so much for the input. Just applied the wash and it seems to be holding ok. I'll be applying a light matte varnish to protect it. It came out even better than I expected. I'll try to post some photos once completed. 
  • Chris EllerbyChris Ellerby Admin
    For latex I've done washes that are just acrylic paint diluted with water.  Higher quality acrylics will last longer.  Depending on how the pieces in handled the washes should last, but as Kai mentioned they can come off over time.  That said, I have many latex props that have had acrylic washes that have lasted for years.

    /Chris
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