File puptcrit/puptcrit.0611, message 73


From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Mathieu_Ren=E9?= <creaturiste-AT-magma.ca>
To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2006 17:26:59 -0500
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Paper Mache: the vermin problem again


Thanks Liz.

I'm surprised at this, Sculpt or Coat doesn't attract mice?
I thought it was PVA based too (like white glue) ?

Maybe your plastic bins are sufficient to protect the stuff.
Mice are known to dig through almost anything if they are motivated though. 
Or is that only with rats?

I don't know, but I hate the idea of having to use rodent poison to get rid 
of them.
I used to work as a janitor in a theatre, and I found a cute brown mouse 
suffering from the poison. It was being dehydrated from within, as if 
digested by itself. Can you imagine the pain? I could feel part of it, I 
guess anybody would. I was forced to do my first mercy killing. How can 
anyone use this kind of critter-control method when knowing full-well the 
painful effects? There are humane traps available, darnit!


Maybe it's not the glue, maybe it's only the paper that attacts the mice 
after all.For food or nesting material...

Your puppets must cost a lot of money on Model Magic, the stuff is not so 
cheap, even in bulk. Plus it dries fast!

I prefer to carve my details directly in the hard foam. Files and sandpaper 
come in handy. Around here, we have a product called Foamcoat, made by 
Rosco, it seems to be a spreadable kind of foam. It air-dries. Feels strong 
to the touch.
I have not used it myself, and since the props and puppets I touched weren't 
mine, I didn't dare to test them to my standards (violently throwing the 
object on a hard floor or wall).
The price for a bucket of it seems very expensive, but a little goes a long 
way, since it is only used as a textural covering over the carved styrofoam. 
it is carvable and sansdable, or so I'm told. I've seen it mostly used to 
smooth the surface and become a thick skin. Useful when making skin on hands 
made of wire armature, covered polyester in batting or some other bulk.





Mathieu René Créaturiste
Marionnettes, Masques, Etcetera...
Puppets, Masks, Etcetera...
SITE officiel:  www.magma.ca/~uubald/
www.creaturiste.blogspot.com
www.maskmaking.blogspot.com
creaturiste-AT-magma.ca
(514) 274-8027
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Liz Evans" <liz-AT-etherboy.com>
To: <puptcrit-AT-lists.driftline.org>
Sent: Saturday, November 04, 2006 9:28 AM
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Paper Mache: the vermin problem again


> Mathieu,
>
> I don't know if our solution is feasible in Canada, but we
> don't use paper mache' at all.  We sculpt initially on Styrofoam
> and then add and detail with Model magic (Crayola Product).  Once
> that dries we cover with a high thread cound gauze material using
> Sculpt or Coat (Sculptural Arts product/ they are based in N. Carolina
> but have distributors all over the US, not sure about Canada) to
> laminate.  This makes for a nice light puppet and a great paint surface.
>
> Any Anchoring we have to do, we use pine or poplar wood block put into
> the styrofoam as a core.  You can easily ban saw or even use a long
> utility blade to open the styrofoam.  If you look at our Web site,
> you can see our Alice Puppet.  Her head was done this way.
>
> We use this method for Glove, Rod, and even some of our large Bunraku
> puppets.
>
> We also store in plastic tubs with locking ends.  We have mice in our
> studio, I have seen plenty of them, but in 5 years (knock on wood) we
> have had no damage.
>
> Happy to go into more detail if anyone is interested.
>
> Best,
> Liz
> K. Elizabeth Evans, President & Artistic Director
> Renaissance Artist Puppet Company
> http://www.RenArtPuppetCo.com
> 610-630-4259
> Company performing -AT-
> The Montgomery County Cultural Center
> 208 DeKalb Street, Norristown, PA
>
> Renaissance Artist Puppet Company's
> mission is to promote excellence in puppetry as a
> Theatrical art form and as an Educational tool by incorporating
> historical and cultural diversity along with quality performance
> techniques to tell our stories.
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