Have you ever wanted to learn something from a person you admired and were met with a curt comment? Me too. I get so frustrated, as I love to learn. However, I find that when I ask someone to teach me, I can often run into a wall. Not all the time, but more than I’d like.

When I was an Imagineer, I was given the opportunity to choose some outside training of my choice. I stumbled upon Ice Carving and I lit up. Disney was willing to give me a day or two to go out and learn this wonderful new skill. I know, right? Does Disney Rock or what?

So I picked up the phone and began to call people who advertised ice carving. Many of these were individuals who rented out their services. I discovered that there were only a handful of these folks in California as many cooks just do their own.

I dialed the first guy,

“I’m a Disney Imagineer, and I was wondering if you would be willing to teach me how to sculpt ice.”
“No Way!”

With that he slammed down the phone. It went this way for all of the first five I called. They seemed to behave as if I was going to steal their career or something.

None of them ever gave me the chance to say anything more. I even tried opening my conversation without naming Disney, but that was worse.

Number six was the charm however James Luff was skeptical. I had to ask, is there really this much distrust in the world. It’s so sad.

I finally convinced James to teach me. When I arrived I found out I had to wear a special suit and that we were to carve in a freezer.

Not only did we have a great time but I discovered he had trouble sculpting faces, so I showed him how to do it as a thank you for teaching me. I also got him 5 new clients. Hmmmm, what do you think about that?

To me it seems so easy. But it’s not, is it? Why should there be this fear. No two artists are ever alike.

Why is it that when you watch some online classes or buy an instructional DVD that the class isn’t a class at all but a chance for the creator of this DVD to say “look what I did, aren’t I awesome”?  Or, if there is a classroom venue, the instructor works and creates but doesn’t say anything. You sit for hours and hours watching the session and the teacher just works, no talking, no explanation, no guidance.

Have you experienced this?

I have to say this baffles me as an artist as I find teaching and collaboration to be one of the best things about being creative.

SO, with no fear, no worry, and with all the excitement my body can give, I vow right now to share with you a few fun tips for creating some cool Halloween stuff.

HOW TO SCULPT A PUMPKIN

There are a lot of ways to learn how to sculpt a pumpkin. But here is the way to learn for free.

Just go to the link below and once you’re on that page, sample each section of the DVD. Learn how to sculpt a pumpkin, I guarantee you’ll see your inner artist emerge.

http://book-ka-cha.com/dvdordering.htm

Now, before that skeptical voice tells you that this is my sneaky way to get you to buy the DVD, remember I said FREE. If you click on each one of the segments on that page, you have the entire DVD lessons to learn at NO cost to you.

Say it with me gang, “YEA!”

In return I ask that when you do create a pumpkin based on these techniques please come back here and post your results and let me know what you think.

HOW TO CREATE A KILLER COSTUME FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR

However you could spend more if you want.

Have you ever wanted to create a killer costume but had absolutely NO idea how to start? Here I’ll share a couple of cool secrets.

If you’ve had dreams of creating a wonderful costume like perhaps The Queen of Hearts, Ursula or Maleficent or ?? Allow me help you.

Many of you may know how to sew or use a hot glue gun. So I’m going to share a couple of techniques that you may not have done as of yet..

If you are a beginner with a ton of desire to create that dream costume, let me say that a hot glue gun can work wonders. Hot glue sticks even come in colors so you can glue your outfit together if you don’t know how to sew. Then again, you could take a class.

Lets get started

The first cool material is mattress foam. Yes, that stuff you find in chair cushions and couches. This stuff is awesome. It comes in a variety of thicknesses from ¼ inch to 6-inch thicknesses. Plus it comes in different PPI (pores per sq. inch). This means that the more pores that are in the foam the softer and denser it is.

You can find this foam at most fabric stores. My favorite place is called the Foam Shack (yes, no kidding) and it’s on Victory Blvd. in Burbank, California. Google them as I’m sure they have a website.

And if you’re clever, you can figure out ways to get this foam for free.

When I first started building my costumes I used the foam from seat cushions, pillows, anything that I could get my hands on. I’d rip the foam out of the cushions and use that. You may have to piece it together a little more then usual but it works.

An upgrade from Mattress foam is L-200, it’s snowy white dense foam used in safety gear. It too, comes in a variety of thicknesses and is dense yet very light weight.

Its super cool and if you want to check it out, go to atlasfoam.com Atlas has a good price on L-200 as this stuff can be pricy. So do shop around.

To use this material, you can use scissors, or blades. You look at your design and break down the design like you would a pattern for a shirt.

Because of time I cannot tell you how to create the whole costume but perhaps if I take one part then it will create the idea bulb to go off in your head and you’ll try it.

EXAMPLE – Lets say that you wish to create Ursula. The foam could be used to create her body and tentacles.

To create the tentacle, take a look at a photo. Do you see that it’s basically a tube that tapers at the tip? What would happen if you took a knife and sliced one tentacle open and spreading it out so that it laid flat? Do you see the shape? Doesn’t it look like a long triangle much like a pennant flag?

Now all you would do is cut out that triangle shape and glue it together with spray glue or contact cement. Remember that some of these glues need you to be in a really good ventilated area so do read the label and FOLLOW the safety instructions. You could also create her body in the same fashion.

Below is a head I did for Universal using this technique. The material is L-200, but you could do it with mattress foam. Take a long look and see how I figured out how I could create flat patterns that when glued together would form the head.

Above is the pattern breakdown for a head. Study this to see what I mean about dissecting the part you want to create in foam and piece it together like a shirt.
Above is the pattern breakdown for a head. Study this to see what I mean about dissecting the part you want to create in foam and piece it together like a shirt.

 

Here the head is assembled so you can see the face form. See how it was broken down?
Here the head is assembled so you can see the face form. See how it was broken down?
Here’s the head completed ready to be covered in fabric or painted.
Here’s the head completed ready to be covered in fabric or painted.

Next you’d want the tentacles to curl into different shapes. To make the tentacle bend into a cool shape and to make it easy for you to move, there’s a very pliable wire called Armature Wire. Sculptors use it to create the armatures for the sculptures they create. I call this armature the skeleton.

This wire can be found in any art store. Just ask for it. It also comes in a multitude of thicknesses. Plus, you can use it for sculpting also. There are many different ways to make the foam bend this is just one of them.

Finally, when it’s all done, you can color it. You can dye the foam with RIT dye and then use an amazing spray paint called Design Masters Paint.

Design masters (dmcolor.com).

You can Google it and find it at a multitude of places. These paints were first used to color artificial flowers and don’t make your fabric or foam stiff or crunchy like regular spray paint can, and you can lay in shadows and highlights with the different colors.

Here’s a costume I made for a young boy with a balance disorder. It’s made entirely of mattress foam. Study it carefully. I dyed the foam and then painted each part with Design Masters paint. He wears a white body suit underneath. The sword is a dowel with mattress foam sculpted over it.
Here’s a costume I made for a young boy with a balance disorder. It’s made entirely of mattress foam. Study it carefully. I dyed the foam and then painted each part with Design Masters paint. He wears a white body suit underneath. The sword is a dowel with mattress foam sculpted over it.

Again, if your budget is a concern, look to sites like ebay or Craiglist as sometimes you can find the materials you need there. Plus, keep an eye out for sales and start to build your kit. A little goes a long way.

I hope you enjoyed this article. I encourage you to post any questions or comments you have here.

 

Terri’s Corner:

You know you’ve been away too long when your husband and dog say, “Who are you again?”

They were kidding of course, but I was on the east coast for a very long time this month, 16 days. Although I had a great deal of fun, I did really miss them. My husband and I are soul mates and its hard to be apart that long.

When you go for your dream this is something you must truly consider. Balancing family and a career can be challenging, however it’s important and must be nurtured. My husband and I make sure to have time together upon my return. I dream of having him travel with me, I know it will happen someday.

My dog, Tillie is sleeping and snoring so loud as I sit on my bed to write this article. It’s good to be home. Ahhh! But my work is not over yet. I’ve got more pumpkins to do. I’ll most likely sleep all day on Nov. 1.

Tillie sacked out while Terri writes.
Tillie sacked out while Terri writes.

Crazy Acres in Connersville, Indiana was amazing. I spent two days sculpting the giant pumpkins for The Crazy Acres photo Opportunity to be held that Friday-Sunday.

Terri stands with her giant sculpted pumpkins, the big one is 380Lbs.
Terri stands with her giant sculpted pumpkins, the big one is 380Lbs.

The Photo Opportunity was announced in the local paper. Because of this, Sunday saw a lot of people coming by Crazy Acres to get their picture taken with the giant pumpkin sculptures. I mean a LOT of people. Many came in their Sunday best. Others came with generations of family from grandkids to great grand parents. There was even a Real Estate company that came out to take their picture for a new real estate brochure cover.

Turns out that cool photo opportunities are a BIG deal in Indiana.

Anita and her husband Gary brought The Dayton Disneyana Club down on Saturday for one of my classes. Many sculpted for the first time, then we all zipped over to a Chinese Buffet for a much needed meal. It was just awesome. I love it when you all come and see me.

Terri with Dayton Disneyana Fan Club with Pumpkin Creations.
Terri with Dayton Disneyana Fan Club with Pumpkin Creations.

My dear friend and DJ of G101 in Richmond, Indiana, comes every year and this year he brought his mother and girlfriend. So here he created a human heart pumpkin. One of the things I encourage in class is to look for misshaped pumpkins or “The Uglies.” When you do this, these pumpkins will let you know what they want to be. It’s great fun.

Terri with Dave, his mom and girlfriend.
Terri with Dave, his mom and girlfriend.
The Human Heart by Dave Snow of G-101 Richmond, Indiana
The Human Heart by Dave Snow of G-101 Richmond, Indiana

 

COMING UP:

More Pumpkins. Sat. Oct 25th and Sunday Oct. 26th from 10am until 6pm, my team and I will be doing demos and selling our custom sculpted pumpkins at McGrath’s Pumpkin Patch in Ventura.

This pumpkin Patch runs alongside the 101 Fwy on the left as you head toward Ventura from Los Angeles.

I’ll also be available to teach you how to sculpt pumpkins, just come up anytime between 10 and 1. Simply say you want to learn. The Class does have a cost, so post if you want more information on anything discussed above. I’d love to see you.

Terri’s pumpkin class and demos.
Terri’s pumpkin class and demos.

My Pumpkin sculpting team last Sunday consisted of Doug Marsh and his son Cameron. Cameron has been with me since age nine, now he’s in college. Cameron and Doug both make appearances sculpting pumpkins at events. Imagine that.

Sabrina Pahloo works with me year after year, and this year’s creation is just wonderful.

As I teach, my team (which consists of alumni pumpkin students) spends the day with me and does demos sculpting their pumpkin designs and chatting with spectators.

Cameron Marsh’s little monster pumpkin
Cameron Marsh’s little monster pumpkin
Sabrina’s Maleficent Pumpkin.
Sabrina’s Maleficent Pumpkin.

Doug Marsh – Olaf Pumpkin

 

FEEDBACK

Thank you to those who commented on the latest story of my supervisor Rick and his Pumpkin accident.

Many of you knew the outcome before I told you in the finish but you hung in there for the conformation. Thanks for that.

RX-24 however did have a question I’d like to answer. You asked if I have a treasured creation and do I still have it. Yes I do.

A favorite creation that I still own is the Disneyland Puzzle Map I created to celebrate Walt’s 100th Anniversary. It was a ton of hard work. It’s based on a child’s wooden puzzle and there were only ten made. It’s one of my best works ever.

RX-24, I’ll go a bit further and say that I have a favorite Item that I didn’t create but I just love it so much. It’s a driver’s license prop from a Foster Farms Chicken commercial of the same name.

It has a photo of my chicken on it and looks just like a real driver’s license from Arkansas. It sits on my drawing table and I giggle every time it catches my eye.

Thank you RX-24, for helping me to revisit that memory.

See you all in two weeks.

 

Sharing is caring!

Terri Hardin Jackson
Terri Hardin has designed attractions as a Disney Imagineer from 1987-1997. She's also a Jim Henson Puppeteer and has worked on over 42 film and TV projects including Ghostbusters & Captain EO. She currently creates Disney collectables and plays a Foster Farms Chicken.