Polystyrene

Culture & Context

I used the material to large scale puppets for Macnas that have travelled the world and over 1.5 million people have seen them

Process & Production

Once a design has been approved I project the design using an overhead projector onto the uncut block of polystyrene. I try to get front and side profiles. The initial shape is cut using a hot wire cutter. Then it is a reductive carving process using knifes, saws, wire brushes and for fine detail rifflers. Once the it is sculpted to the desired shape it is covered in paper mache using rice paper. A layer of muslin to create skin detail and raffia for hair. This is hollowed out and mounted on puppet armature.

You can use the same material using formers to create architectural details like columns, coving etc. It can also be used to create caves and rock features for film, tv and theatre.

It comes in various densities. I like the 100 for sculpting

EPS70 White – 3.6×1.2×1 

EPS100 White – 3.6×1.2×1

EPS150 White – 3.6×1.2×1 

EPS200 White – 3.6×1.2×1 

EPS300 White – 3.6×1.2×1

Recipe Details

Cut with a hot wire. Kitchen knife, saws and rifflers. Use density 70 or 100 for sculptural work