Guard Gargoyle costume

[Mytical]

Not sure where (if anywhere) to put this..but I am considering making the idea of 'Guard Gargoyle' come to life. However, I realize I would need help..and lots of it..and it would be a LONG time to finally get put together..basically as I could afford it.

Wings, and tail I KNOW I would need. Just not sure how to make the rest of me look 'stone like'..and the face while..monsterous in appearance shouldn't be 'warped' too much (ie if you've ever seen the gargoyle cartoon..something like that for the face..ie not some alien looking monster thing). So..any advice, ideas about how much things would cost..etc would be very appreciated..

Just keep in mind that if it is something I am buying from somebody..that it may be a long time before I can afford it..because I would want to pay what it is WORTH.

[lordlundar]

hmm, grey facepaint applied with a sponge might give a stone appearance.

[AdminAssistant]

hmm, grey facepaint applied with a sponge might give a stone appearance.

It would need to be stippled and shaded with various shades of gray, black, brown, etc. to lend texture. If you've got a party supply store in town they should have stage makeup (don't go cheap on this, remember you're putting this on your skin.) They may also have instructional books or even a makeup artist on staff you could get advice from. I really don't recommend using any prosthetics (fake noses, etc.) unless you're going to get help from a pro. Small items can be attached with spirit gum, which is fairly easy to use and remove. (Although, depending upon what you're applying, you may need a bit of modeling wax.) Anything more elaborate, however, needs to be applied with latex, and latex is a pain. in. the. ass.

Of course, I'm only really considering the face with the above. One thing you need to consider is if you want to paint your body or wear some kind of body suit. If you go with body paint, you'll definitely have to have someone help you apply the paint and a powder (so that the paint doesn't come off). Plus the aforementioned shading/texture work. A painted spandex body suit might be easier in the long run. Either way, I'd recommend gloves instead of painting your hands. Between touching things, hand washing, and the natural oils in your palms, it's going to come off really easily.

ETA: You asked about cost. As I mentioned already, you should go with good quality makeup. Most theatre folks I know use Ben Nye, although there are other reputable brands out there. It's not cheap, unfortunately. Not knowing what supplies you have, I'd recommend their basic kit, which comes with many different foundations, highlights and shades, powder, brushes, pencils, spirit gum (and spirit gum remover - IMPORTANT), makeup remover*, etc. It will not have the colors of foundation that you need, but you'll get all your supplies. Then see if you can get a color wheel that has those colors. You may need a separate large container of a basic gray (your foundation) and then a smaller wheel with dark brown, several shades of blue, darker grays, black, maybe green. Of course, you can also get big tubs of black and white and mix those in various combinations to get your grays. Experiment. A lot.

*Get a big-ass bottle of baby oil. Best makeup remover there is.

[MaggieTheCat]

I found this link when browsing around for dragon wing ideas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62jhoXa4ckI

I haven't actually made them. But they look doable and you can go as cheap or expensive as you want with the fabric and details.

[AccountingDrone]

Didn't someone have a link to a fantastic Weeping Angel costume here? Or was it a different message board I hang out upon?

http://www.slashgear.com/diy-doctor-...-good-0888953/

[Mytical]

Thanks for the tips so far . Both wing links were awesome, I especially like the look of the second link. That would be very similar to what I was going for. Though a combination of the two ... (the look of the first with the color of the second) would be ideal. I know such things, and applying any makeup to myself, is currently beyond my talents

[Shpepper]

Didn't someone have a link to a fantastic Weeping Angel costume here? Or was it a different message board I hang out upon?

http://www.slashgear.com/diy-doctor-...-good-0888953/

I was going to mention the weeping angels too. Some of the best pics came from DragonCon a couple years ago. http://www.google.com/search?q=weepi...w=1366&bih=665 the first three pics here are good ones. And if you google weeping angel costume, there is a tutorial.