DIY Network

Egyptian Foam Sculpture Visit DIY's Craft Lab to learn how to create an Egyptian foam sculpture. From "Craft Lab" episode DCLB-218

Guest Yvonne Palermo shows how to create an Egyptian foam sculpture. The project begins by first tracing an image projected onto the foam by using an overhead projector, eliminating any free hand drawing.

Once the image is traced with a black marker, Yvonne and Jennifer demonstrate how to hot wire the image using a heating hot wire foam carving tool.

Once the project has been aged using heating tools, Jennifer demonstrates how to begin coating the project using acrylic paints to create a yellow base wash to the background of the entire stone.

Dry pigment helps enhance the stone to complete the Egyptian sculpture.

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	Guest Yvonne Palermo creates this one-of-a-kind foam Egyptian sculpture.
	Such eye-catching detail as showcased here has enabled Hollywood set designers to fool the public for years with foam art!

Egyptian Foam Sculpture

Project designed by Yvonne Palermo.

Materials:

4 cut out slabs of EPS (expanded polystyrene foam) with jagged edging for aged effect
Utrecht Acrylic Paints in various colors
image on acetate found in the Egyptian Motifs (Dover Publications)
interior and exterior foam coat sealant form Hot Wire Foam Factory
hot wire tools from Hot Wire Foam Factory
all grades of sandpaper
dremel set with different sanding bits if your prefer (can be used if you do not have hot wire tools)
paintbrushes
palette
Plexiglas
extra foam slabs
cardboard, etc. (Plexi is best because acrylic paint peels off when done)
water for brushes
towels
paper towels
heat gun
overhead projector
pencil
mask and goggles
thin point black marker
dry pigment (silver and gold acrylic ink can also be used to achieve the same effect)

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

Note: The foam should measure 2' x 4' wide or, if working on small projects, the craft stores offer many foam shapes too.

1. Lean a slab of foam on a wall if it is not self-standing.

2. Using an overhead projector (you can rent one from a local library) project the image onto the foam. Place the image on the foam where you need to sculpt (figure A).

3. Lightly trace the image with a pencil or thin black marker (figure B) — in some cases you can go ahead and just hot wire it out or dremel it out.

4. To get the "BAS RELIEF" that the Egyptians did you will hot wire an image that you trace. This technique will create a small indention into the outline added to the overall effect. Use the hot wire to accentuate areas of relief (figure C), remember this is an old piece of art you are replicating. This step will enhance the ageing process of the project.

5. Heat gun the surface and edges of the foam to enhance the aging effect all over the exterior of the project. The small burn effects will break up the smooth texture of the foam.

6. You can also use sealants as well to create a hard surface, but some sealants you will be unable to sand.

7. Apply yellow acrylic paint to entirely wash the entire stone (figure D). Make sure to fill in all the crevices of the stone and remove any excess paint by lightly brushing it out. Rubbing chunks of paint into the grooves of the project will also enhance the aging effect. Use a paintbrush in place of a roller and paint according to a based reference image if needed on Egyptian art. Once all the sides of the stone have been painted, allow the paint to dry between one half to one hour.

8. After the foam has been painted, it needs to be aged. Simply apply a burnt amber acrylic paint to outline the previously hot wired carved indention in the foam (figure E).

9. Add water to the acrylic paints to fill in the Egyptian artwork. Lightly brush in paint over the yellow painted base color of areas you wish to color.

10. Once the stone is fully painted and dry, proceed to apply the dry pigment by rubbing it into the surface of the stone. Apply where desired to help bring out the colors. If desired, sand away the paint and repeat the aging process to complete the project.

RESOURCES :

Foam Coat Sealant and Hot Wire Tools
Hot Wire Foam Factory
Website: http://www.hotwirefoamfactory.com/home.php

Utrecht Acrylic Paint
Toll-free: 800-442-0455

Jacquard Products
Rupert, Gibbon and Spider, Inc.
Manufacturers of Pearl-Ex Pigments
Website: www.jacquardproducts.com

GUESTS :

Yvonne Palermo
Cosmocometdesigns
E-mail: art@cosmocometdesigns.com
ydpalermo@comcast.net
Website: www.cosmocometdesigns.com