Wax Scarecrow
May 23rd, 2011 by John Wolfe
If you read the comments posted under the Music to Corpse By entry, you may have seen the conversation ssflipo, Camile and I were having about ssflipo’s really cool wax scarecrow (with perched bat) creation. He was kind enough to let me see this pic yesterday and I think it looks great! I’d love to have a ‘crow like that sitting on my desk watching over me as I work on SoS. 
Ssflipo did have a question pertaining to sealing and hardening the wax sculpture. So, I offered the suggestion that he may want to try “Sculpt or Coat” found at Sculptural Arts, as that seems like it would be a good product for protecting it.
Speaking of Sculpt or Coat, a big thanks goes out to “Krough” over at Grim Visions for first turning me onto the product back on the old Methods of Madness forum at Terror Syndicate. Anyway, I know a lot of EXTREMELY talented, artistic folks visit here, and I wanted to see if anyone has any suggestions for another good sealant (maybe one that is meant to be used specifically for wax) to harden and protect his scarecrow.
Again, great job, ssflipo, and thanks for sharing the pic!
May 23rd, 2011 at 1:59 pm
That is a very cool piece. Never really thought of wax as a medium! This is why I love blogging
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers!
May 23rd, 2011 at 2:48 pm
Wow, that is really cool. Must be fun to work with wax. I’ve always wanted to get into blowing glass. I think the entire process of making the creation looks relaxing and that of great fun. Very much like this wax creation. Actually working with wax must be somewhat difficult because it has to be at a certain temp to be able to work with it. Then again that’s the case with glass as well so I suppose you learn your ways.
LoL, John with the temps you all have in New Mexico and in your home, I would be afraid this fantastic creation would melt on your desk
I do love seeing the variety of creations people are making out there so thank you very much for sharing this with us all. Have an awesome day sweetie!
May 23rd, 2011 at 3:38 pm
The Frog Queen,
I’m with you — I never thought about wax either. It’s awesome to see the ingenuity artistic folks come up with. Ssflipo’s piece got me thinking about those Halloween candles you could buy back in the ’80s — the ones that were a ghoul’s hand with the wicks in all five fingertips. As it burned down, it always revealed a skeleton hand beneath!
Goldie,
Oh, yeah, glass blowing is an incredible art form! They had a really interesting documentary about it on PBS some time ago. You should look into it. I bet there are classes or maybe even some type of apprenticeship in your area. That would be a lot of fun to learn.
Not only was I impressed by the end product of ssflipo’s scarecrow, but just as you said, I was also impressed by how tricky it must be to achieve that considering the medium. Yeah, in summer’s past a creation like that would no doubt have melted in here. But this year I promise the A/C is going to be running and we’ll be sitting nice and cool… Ahhhhhhhh.
You have a great day, too.
May 23rd, 2011 at 5:39 pm
John, thanks for putting my pic up on the site. Sorry for the bad quality. Working with wax isn`t that hard if you have the right equipment. At work we shoot molds of rings and other things . So if I need a arm for something, I just get a mold that looks like it or something close to it and modify it to be an arm.I get all my pieces together and then put it together. The heat pen I use is like a soldering pen but I can adjust the temp. When it`s all together , smooth rough edges with pen and wipe with lighter fluid. This is used for the final smoothing of the wax.And there you have it.
The only thing I needed is something to coat it with , that will harden. I haven`t gone to the hobby store yet But I will soon.
I love working with different mediums each has it`s own characteristics and I find different things in each. But most of the time it has something Halloween in it lol.
I would love to learn glass blowing and there just happens to be a place to learn it not to far from me. But I think that will wait for now.
Thanks again for posting the pic.
May 23rd, 2011 at 8:06 pm
ssflipo,
So you pretty much start out with a form that slightly resembles the end product by using molded wax, but the detail really comes from using the heat pen — I gotcha. Well, you did a great job with it. If the Sculpt or Coat works out for you, do you think you’ll create more Halloween sculptures with wax? If so, please keep me updated on your work.
Thank you for letting us take a look at your cool creation.
May 23rd, 2011 at 9:36 pm
yes but all in pieces. sent you an email for face book.
May 24th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Not very many things online get me to respond out loud but seeing your scarecrow made me shout a WOW!!! loud enough for my neighbors to hear!! WOW WOW WOW!!!! Nice work!!!! In my part of Texas with the heat AND humidity the scarecrow would sweat first, then melt. I’ll be keen to hear what works for you to stabilize him. And thank you to John for posting him! John, you are a prince among men!
May 25th, 2011 at 5:45 am
Sorry, after dipping my victims in wax I have to move quickly to another town before the police catch me. I never have time for sealant.
– Your friend Vincent Price.
That is an amazingly cool creation by the way. I could see it marketed with candy as edible wax toys.
May 25th, 2011 at 10:39 am
Camile,
It’s my pleasure. I’d love to start featuring visitor’s Halloween artwork and prop creations on a more consistent basis. If you ever want me to post some pics, just let me know.
Ethan,
Ah, yes, if I’m not mistaken wasn’t that quote from “The Fall of the House of Wax.”
May 26th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
That would be a great film. Just so long as Paris Hillton isnt in it.
May 27th, 2011 at 11:13 am
Was there a House of Wax film with her starring in it? It sort of rings a bell.
June 2nd, 2011 at 5:31 pm
Camile thank you for the kind words. Currently working on a spooky tree. I will send John the pics when finished. I am thinking of taking my wax items to a pottery or ceramic shop/class and see if they can make a mold of it and then have it cast in plaster or what ever they use. If that doesn`t work I might have to have it cast in alloy.
June 2nd, 2011 at 7:52 pm
Looking forward to seeing the pictures of your tree, ssflipo13.