tammyw Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 My dd is in Tom Sawyer and I am part of props again. We need to make a fake pile of dirt that can be used for a dozen shows. Obviously it needs to look like a pile of dirt without actually being a messy pile of dirt :tongue_smilie: I'm stumped. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pqr Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 (edited) Put plastic on the stage, if need be, and use mulch. Dry mulch can be swept up fairly easily. Wood chips or wood shavings may also work. Anything, that I can think of, that you make will be messy or will be a single piece that will not be able to be shoveled. Alas, poor Yorick....he is covered in mulch? Edited February 19, 2012 by pqr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 I would construct a mound out of a wooden box frame, chicken wire, and brown fabric. You can either paint the fabric with multiple colors to give it the appearance of texture or you can spray it with glue and sprinkle dirt or mulch on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reign Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Paper mache over crumpled newspapers. Spray paint with brown speckled paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lailasmum Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Polystyrene, just shape scrim and paint. You could even not scrim and paint the rough polystyrene, the roughness of the polystyrene and a good paint job would look really realistic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Mix clear glue with dirt and cover a paper-mache-over-chicken-wire "pile" shape with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happygrrl Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Brown craft paper over chicken wire, then cover with spray adhesive and dust with peat moss. Shake off excess peat moss; hopefully enough will stick to make the pile look realistic! Can you tell we have been playing with glitter here? :D Wait! Maybe you could adhere the peat moss on the paper before crumpling it over a chicken wire frame.... might be easier.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Do you know anyone who paints? They could make it realistic from a distance and you won't have to cart around some crumbling mass of glue and mulch. It seems like some sort of muti-toned textured look wouldn't be THAT hard for artistically inclined folks. In your position I'd post the question on Facebook and bribe the volunteer with tea and cake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan in TN Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Is there such a thing as gray/black/brown foam (like craft foam to tear into chuncks)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Beachy Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I was also going to suggest mixing dirt and glue and using it to cover a formed mound. You could also try painting some styrofoam. That could make for a nice textured look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathkath Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Polystyrene, just shape scrim and paint. You could even not scrim and paint the rough polystyrene, the roughness of the polystyrene and a good paint job would look really realistic. This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 Thank you for all the ideas. I've sent them off to my props manager :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetMissMagnolia Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 can't wait to see how it all turns out..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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