Styrofoam Rock Climbing

This sculpture is made out of styrofoam and Powertex products.

I used some leftovers from other styrofoam projects to create the basis.

- Styrofoam

- Powertex Universal medium

- Powertex Stone Art

- Powertex colors

- Powertex blisters

- Powertex Easy Varnish

- Hairdryer or heatpistol

- Brush

- Toothpicks

- Cutter

Use a cutter to shape the styrofoam pieces so they fit somehow.

Assemble them as you like, using toothpicks.

Don't be irritated of the color dots - these are just leftovers from other projects.

I also used styrofoam box and some sticks to lift the project from the table.

Take your hairdryer or heating pistol and melt the styrofoam until you get the desired form - so that they look like rocks.

Use the Powertex Universal Medium (I used Ivory) to paint the rocks.

Powertex Universal Medium is also a glue (hardener) - let some of the fluid go in between the styrofoam to strengthen the construction.

Now that all the rocks are wet, apply Powertex Stone Art.

You can use a brush or just with your hands.

Make sure it sticks well. You can see already the stony texture.

You can let it dry or use your hairdryer (not the heating pistol!) to dry the rocks.

Afterwards take a soft brush and wipe off any remaining dust.

Now the texture is clear.

Use the blisters (I used brown, green and mahonie) - mix them with water in spray bottles.

Color at will.

We want to give some depth to make the rocks more realistic

Use some of your ivory Powertex Universal Medium and dip your brush into the color - we don't need much color here - only the idea of a color.

Now only caress the rocks with the brush so you apply color only on the tips of the rocks.

You better put some gloves on :-)

Mix the Stone Art and the Universal Medium (1:1) until you get a formable dough.

Use your fantasy to form the little men and place them on the rocks.

(Keep a small amount of the dough. You will need it at the end to stick the little men on the rocks and maybe in between the rocks if you detect instability. Use aluminum foil or some plastic wrap to keep the dough smooth.)

Let them dry.

Use the Powertex Easy Varnish and the pigment colors of your choice. I used Rich Gold, Terra Green and Bronze Gold.

You have to mix the color with the varnish (don't use too much varnish).

Let them dry.

Your project is almost ready.

Take small pieces of your dough, (color it first) attache the little men on the rocks and let them climb.