texturing bald caps

Test Samples

For my final makeup i want my model to have a full head piece. I think in an ideal situation where time and money were no object and i knew all the techniques i would create a cowel headpiece for my makeup. with the spines and scales sculpted into the piece. Then i would run in in foam latex or rubber latex to make it waterprooof. However because i do not have this time i wanted to see if i could create the sclaes on the head a different way.

To do this i wanted to texture a latex bald cap.

Latex would be needed for this makeup as it would have to be waterproof and also because i am putting a silicone face piece on top of the bald cap i could not make the bald cap out of cap plastic because when i went to blend the edges of the silicone piece it would also dissolve the cap plastic.

Making the Bald Cap

The first thing i tried was recreating crocodile skin with Le beau touche clay on the head.

I wasnt sure if the technique would work at all so this was just a trial. And i sort of made up the pattern from memory. but in hindsight i should have used more of a reference like the image to the side.

however i don't think it is too different, just if i sculpted the headpiece like this again i would make the squares and pattern more uneven.

In total however i believe that the technique works, and that the bald cap could be textured this way.

However i would make the scales slightly more raised so it gives a more 3D effect.

After the initial attempt i decided to try a more trianglular design and sculpt on the red head, only because the design in my face sculpt is very triangluar because it is based from fish and snake scales rather than from a crocodile.

I think that the design didn't work exactly how i wanted to, but still is a little successful. I wanted the scales to get increasingly larger as they extended up the head, so not 100% sure how i would sculpt it on the head.

For this test i just carved in the pattern in the same sizes and direction so not sure how it would work all over the head.

Also with this is it took a long time to sculpt the individual scales on the face, so i know it would take a very long time to do the whole head.

2nd Test sample- using a different pattern

3rd Test sample- using a different technique

After the initial tests i still wanted to see if i could still do the triangular pattern all over the head.

It didnt work as well i expected mainly because of the direction of all the lines, and how they cross over eachother, because it is a curved surface it doesn't work as well as it did with a smaller sample.

After this did not work as well as i imagined and wanted it to, i felt like i had no choice but to use the pumpkin seeds all over the head.

I am very glad i had this back up.

In order for the bald cap to not tear i used a sponge with a thick latex layer to get into all the cracks and under the seeds, i'm hoping thiss will work.

For the final test i decided to do something a bit different and use pumpkin seeds to represent 3D scales on the head.

I think they look at lot more realistic than the sculpts and were quick to texture because the seeds stuck right to the clay super quickly.

However:

1) some of the seeds got stuck in the latex when removing it, and im not sure how it would afftect the application. i dont know if i could apply it with them still in the latex or if i need to try and rip them out.

2) some of the latex didnt coat the head completely so there were a few holes in the latex. I think a way to rectify this would be to make a thicker bald cap with more layers and really make sure that all the gaps are covered when making the bald cap.

3) although the shapes of the seeds are perfects for scales, because of the shape of scales i have on my face sculpt i wish the seeds were more triangular.

However despite all of this i do think it would be a good idea to do the whole head like this.

To get all the clay on the head i had to soften the clay quite a bit, so i put it in the microwave and smothed it with my hands.

I used the rake tool all over the head to smooth it all out, and then i used the softer tool to carve the scales into the head.

I used a wooded tool because i did not want to damage the plastic head with a metal tool, and i also wanted a softer finish.

I am glad i used Le beau touche clay instead of monster clay because of its softness and its stickiness, the seeds stuck to it really easily and didn't come off at all when working on it.

after the initial 3/4 layers that i sponged on the head i just poured on the latex over the head to get a really thick layer. I have seen other people use this technique when making bald caps that they fit when making a head cast.

Because it does not need to have blendable edges, especially on the front because they will be covered witha prosthetic i think that it will be ok.

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