Sunday, September 27, 2015

Welcome to the First Annual Styrofoam Head Creature Contest!


Okay, blame the weather in Southern California.  Blame the anniversary of the passing of our dog, Sofia, whom we used to dress up in costumes every year for 12 years.
Our lovely Sofia as the Headless Horseman's Steed in 2011. 
Whatever the reason, I haven't been feeling very Halloween-y yet this year.  But then it struck me!  I was given a set of my DVDs "The Business of Making Monsters, Vol I, II, & III" from the Stan Winston School and I was told that I could give them away.  What better way than to host a contest and receive an avalanche of cool monsters to get my creature-making blood boiling again!  See? Win/Win!!!!

So How Does this Work?

Here are the official rules:

1.) Every submission must be before (of the store-bought styrofoam head) and after photos (of the final creature).  The photos should be 150 dpi and about 10 inches by 6 inches (or in that neighborhood).  Please add some sort of identification on the photos themselves so we can keep all of the entries straight.  Photos MUST be received by October 25, 2015 at 6 o'clock p.m. Pacific Standard Time.  Entry into the contest automatically gives me the right to use your image in social media posts, and for contest publicity.  If you are uncomfortable with sharing your creations with the public, please do not enter. All entries MUST have the name, address and contact information (which will not be shared), and age (for legal reasons - under the age of 18 requires that a parent or guardian over the age of 21 submit the entry).

2.) The creations MUST be a decorated/augmented styrofoam form.  Male, Female, Long-Neck, Short-Neck, No-Face, Skull, it doesn't matter as long as it is STORE-BOUGHT and STYROFOAM!  No rigid urethane heads or latex/polyfoam, or plaster, or stone heads are allowed. The Styrofoam forms are NOT TO BE USED AS SCULPTING ARMATURES!  Use of W.E.D. clay or oil-based clays is forbidden!  Papier mache pulp clay MAY be used.  Creatures made from latex and cotton, tissue paper, papier mache, or any BUILT UP materials that have not been PRE-MOLDED is what we are looking for.  HOWEVER, use of artificial eyes and teeth are welcome!

3.) After receiving your entry, you will be contacted by 10:00 p.m. PST to confirm the receipt and to acknowledge that your entry has passed the requirements for competition.  Winners will be announced Halloween Night at 4:00 p.m. PST.  Prizes will be mailed out no later than November 7th at my expense.

4.) As of now, the prizes are as follows:

FIRST PLACE -  receives one set (3 DVDs) of my "Business of Making Monsters".  These DVDs are a must for anyone who wants to monetize their creature making OR improve their visibility and professionalism.



SECOND PLACE - receives a set of signed prints from me.  At the end of the contest, the 2nd place winner will be contacted and given a choice of 2 signed prints from my collection.

THIRD PLACE - a key chain featuring EVIL ED or THE PREDATOR or one of the Halloween images from my collection. These can also be worn as pendants.

Should the prizes change, everyone will be notified to check this blog.

Winners will be chosen, based on the following:

1.) Skill.  Cleanliness of execution in the use of the materials (PLEASE add a description of how you made your head along with the photos).

2.) Originality.  Of course you can make anything.  Make a Wookie gosh-darnnit, but original ideas and designs are always welcome!

3.) Degree of difficulty.  Hey, do something that requires special skills and effects - it might give you the edge.

SEND ENTRIES TO: info@phantomharbor.com and in the memo section write: Styrofoam Head Contest

Who can enter?  Anybody.  However, if you are under the age of 18, your entry MUST come from your parent or guardian over the age of 21.

As of now, I'll be reviewing entries and awarding the winners.  Should additional judges be brought in, all contestants will be notified about the change.

So go out and get your Styrofoam Heads and start MAKING MONSTERS!!!!




39 comments:

  1. This is super cool!!! I'm too starstruck to comment further at the moment :P

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  2. Star struck! Don't be silly! Go get a styrofoam head and get to work! ;-)

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  3. hey, i'm from Mexico, can i participate on this?
    realy like and looks fun!
    no matter if I win, I really like the idea

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  4. Yes Leonardo! If you win, I'll mail the DVD's to you! No problem! Get your styrofoam head and get going!!!!

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  5. I really want to enter this and have a styrofoam head ready, but I only have a samsung galaxy s5 phone to take pictures and I have no idea how to get 150dpi and the size right. Sorry I'm not very knowledgeable with photos.

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    1. Sorry this was my comment but my phone wasn't signed in.

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    3. It's all good Gary - send the photos to info@phantomharbor.com and if they get bounced back because the content attachment is too large, we'll worry about it then! Otherwise, GO! Make a monster, Gary!

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    4. I'm super keen, it will be my first time using a styrofoam head too which is something I've been wanting to try for a while. Also I downloaded a photo resizer app so hopefully I can use that to get the pictures right.

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  7. Hi, Shannon. Can we use; "Magic Sculpty" the two-part epoxy putty too attach things to our heads? < The styrofoam one; of course. lol.

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  8. Hey Dar -

    My conditional answer is "yes" but I just want to make sure that what we are going to see is finished, painted, hair, whatever and not just a sculpture. Can't wait to see it!

    Shannon

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    1. Totally "will not" be a sculpted piece, that's for sure. Thank you very much. dar

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  9. Very cool stuff! I hope I can get an entry knocked out in time...it is haunt season.

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    1. Don't worry Allen! If you can, that would be awesome but if you can, have a great time HAUNTING! Wish I could come and have you scare the heck outta me!

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  10. Shannon you rock, we are going tomorrow to get our styro heads and get cracking in our monster lab, we love your tutorials on SWS and look forward to many more. - JSFX

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    1. Awwww thanks Charles! Truth is, YOU ALL rock! I am losing my mind in anticipation of what you all are going to create! I hope to offer more tutorials at SWSCA soon! Get to work y'all!!!!!

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  13. Hi Mr.Shea! It's such an honor to ask you a question! Can I use the expandable spray foam that you would find at Home Depot to build up areas like the shoulders and chest? Of course I would sand it and paint it afterwards. Thankyou for the opportunity to enter into a fun contest! All the best, Gant

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  14. Yes Grant! Please do! I can't wait to see the result!!!!!

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  16. Mr. Shea, I cast my own skulls as a base for the heads I create using two part foam. Is that acceptable or shall I "head forward" with a wig head? I will be happy to use a wig head if that is not acceptable ... may save a bit of time as I build them layer by layer as "latex mache" an blend of cotton ball and latex and mache .... thanks for your time. Peace.

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  17. Hey Bill -

    I'd rather you use a store bought head. Only because I have students that have asked to use two-part rigid foam heads and I've prevented them from doing so. I need to keep it fair! That said, carve into it - burn it with acetone - add papier mache, latex and cotton, gelatin, silicone caulking, etc. Can't WAIT to see what you come up with! Good luck and KEEP CREATING!

    Shannon Shea
    #workwithyourhands

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    1. Most excellent .... will do.

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    2. Concerning photos ... do you want some working progress or merely before and after? Decided to go with a styro skull from Michaels ....

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    3. Hey Bill -

      Sorry, I missed your question there - The answer is either. I'd love to see progress photos to understand how you built it - but you can also just describe how you did it in the body of your email! How is it going?

      Shannon Shea
      #workwithyourhands

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    4. He's just about there .... then he's off to the races. Working on his body for a local charity event (no scare treat stations for kids) I'll wait until I get a picture of that as well so you can see him as intended. Peace.

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  18. Do you have to keep the humanoid shape of the styrofoam head or can you use cardboard/craft foam to create frame work to paper mache on? Example to make horns/crests or turn the shape into something like a trex head? What about helmets/armor? thanks

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  19. Daniel - I don't have any problem with anything you are describing as long as a.) it starts as a store-bought styrofoam head and b.) the styrofoam head does not serve simply as a sculpture armature that supports either oil or water based clays. Anything else including epoxy putty, paper mache, paper mache pulp, latex and polyfoam, craft and jewelry items, fake hair/eyes/teeth, etc. are are permissible.

    So go out there and knock our socks off!

    Shannon Shea

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  20. Seems somehow either my email entry was not received or just "didn't make the cut", it was sent October 23 .... bummed.

    Bill Baker

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    1. info@phantomharbor.com
      (you cannot check status of internet mail)

      Sent: 10/23/2015 10:22 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time

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    2. Hey Bill, I checked my email again and don't see your entry. Could you please resend it To info@phantomharbor.com? I will include it since you had told me you were nearly done prior to the close of the contest. Sorry about this little glitch.

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    3. Thanks will do. I shall send it again. It will be coming from bill4actm@aol.com

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    4. Just sent it again. My thanks for allowing a "re send", if by chance you do not receive it please let me know.

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    5. ..... and one from gmail as a back up ..... boy I so love the interwebs .... hopefully one goes through. Either way, thank you for presenting such an opportunity for artists that still love to create with their hands. Peace.

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