Loving Latex

Good morning, Shamblers!

There's many ways to zombie up, and while most people start out with make-up, the next level up is getting the liquid latex out.

An easy way to get some basic special effects on the go, liquid latex is cheap, simple to apply, rapid-drying and, above all, flexible. It clings to the skin, moves with it and removes readily; if you've made a thicker, more detailed piece, then you can carefully remove it and keep it for re-use.

In this post we'll look at some basic latex tips, all the way up to making full-size latex masks.

Let's start over at Instructables.com with some basic burns.

These burns are easy-to-apply, take only a few minutes and add a sick, gooey realism to your zombie's injuries!

Next up, why not try making a lipless, torn zombie mouth out of plastic bottles and fake nails for teeth?

This is one of my favourites, it's dirt cheap to make and completely changes the shape of the face, providing a nice focal point that ties a relatively simple zombie outfit together. This is then easily applied to the face with latex and make-up to blend it in.

The advanced level of latex working is making full-size masks, like this Predator mask. 

This is the slightly less complex of the two methods of latex mask-making, painting the liquid onto a lubed-up sculpture. It is requires less effort that option number two, but since the latex goes on in layers on top of the sculpt, each layer will have slightly less detail; if you're wanting to make a finely-detailed mask or have put a lot of effort into skin textures or imperfections this method is not for you. 

This is actually the method I have been using to make my own mask for this year's Zombiefest; we'll see how it turns out! The prototype is pretty nice, but we'll see how the second attempt goes.

The second method is casting the mask. This gorgeous Instructable has an in-depth guide to making plaster moulds and casting with them.

Since the other layers of the mask are the ones that are directly on the sculpt, they pick up all the textures and minor details where it can be seen.

That's enough to get you started! Latex is readily available from online retailers and art shops. Go for it!

Protips:

• Apply latex to mask moulds with make-up sponges; the distribution is easier and more even than with brushes, and they can be easily rinsed clean afterwards.
• Apply many thin layers; dribbling loads on will make it run and take longer to dry.
• Latex can stick to itself, so if you're removing it from inside a mould, use a little talcum powder to stop it sticking together.
• Latex can be coloured with acrylic paint in a roughly 50/50 ratio, it is flexible and dries fine. If you don't mix the paint with latex, it'll not be as flexible and is liable to crack.
• Test your skin! Latex allergies are not uncommon, so apply a little to your hand or forearm to see if you react before smothering your face in the stuff.
• There are hundreds of resources for using latex, we have included only a few here, but search online for different methods and tutorials.