Squid Prop (and not for Haloween)

Giant Squid, Sea Monster, or Theater Prop?

Squid with close view of the eye by Ralph Yeager Roberts

 The Latest commission was for a Giant Squid replica needed for Nearly Naked Theater's November production of "The Muckelman".  The "How To" on this one involved a great deal of snipping and carving of foam like you use for couch cushions.  Most of the Mantel or Head of the Squid is made using 2" thick sheets of foam but egg crate foam sheets would have worked so long as the bumps are kept on the inside to create a smooth outer surface.  I glued the sheets as I would piece together the fabric pieces to make a soft sculpture.  I covered the finished squid mantle with a shiny slightly stretchy vinyl but it looked too much like stiff cloth so I covered that with stretchy fabric more like nylon material but a bit thicker and denser weave than nylon stockings.


The tentacles and arms include about four that where made independently and then glued in place in the final assembly.  The remaining six tendrils where made by carving the tangle of arms out of a foam bolster sold as a multi purpose window treatment base.  Once everything was sculpted and attached together I used Black, Red, and Silver Spray paint to get basic shading and tinting down.  I then moved to air brush to shade and texture the individual arms, head, and mantel.  I followed this up by brushing on a number of other details.



Squid close up Ralph Yeager Roberts



The eye which is turned out especially nicely is worth giving separate information about so people can use the ideas to help in making similar eyes for Squid or fish or even some other animals.  But I took the completed eye (only one sine the squid is positioned as if on its side so the other eye is not visible as it sits on the other side against the surface of the table.  For full instructions about making a squid eye or fish eye like I used for this model follow the following link.  http://woringwickedness.blogspot.com/2010/11/squid-and-fish-eye-tutorial.html







The final detailing to add a texture and shimmery wetness involved several thin layers of latex followed by some clear silicon caulking.  Do be sure to use the type that is packaged in a clear plastic tube.  I used another one that was marked clear but was not in a clear tube and not only did I get ill on the fumes it did not gleam and look wet.  The Silicon that was in the opaque tube also went on rather clear but dried cloudy.  To boost the shimmer and look of deadness I mixed some acrylic thinner, with some photo transfer solution, translucent glass paint, water, and other items near at hand that seemed to be right at the time.



I am quite happy with how he turned out but will enjoy hearing what others think of the monstrous looking sea creature.









Squid by Ralph Yeager Roberts