Stigmata Statue

$40 - $50 (based on 2017 prices)

Makes one statue

This prop was featured in the opening room of 2017’s haunted house, which was decorated like an old Spanish church. To add eerie touches and enhance the atmosphere, I emphasized certain elements of Catholicism. Unlike the stigmata bust, where I replaced the blood with blackened goo, I maintained the traditional stigmata with this statue. To cut the project’s cost, consider purchasing the statue at a second-hand store or on clearance.

• One twenty-four-inch resin garden statue
• One 10 oz. cans of interior/exterior, fast-drying spray paint in desert bisque
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in cherry cobbler*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat black*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat brown*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat gray*
• One 2 oz. bottle of acrylic paint in flat white*
• One 0.44 oz. bottle of clear nail polish*
  

1. On a newspaper-lined surface in a well-ventilated area, give the statue an even coat of desert bisque spray paint. Depending on the type of stone you plan to emulate, you may want to select a darker or lighter hue. Likewise, you could elect for a smooth surface or one with a stippled effect.

2. Dry brush gray into the nooks and crannies of the statue. You want to focus on areas where weatherization would occur and sediment would accumulate: in the folds of fabric, the curls of hair, and the creases of fingers and facial features.

3. Repeat the procedure in step two with black paint, ensuring you center your application on portions which would normally experience exposure to the elements. Although I worked from light to dark to achieve a heavily weathered appearance, you could work from dark to light (flipping steps two and three) for a milder aging process.

4. Gently dry brush white over the surface of the statue. You want this coverage to lightly accent the black and gray, so be sparing in your application. If it helps, practice on a piece of cardboard first.

5. Create a wash of brown paint and allow it to run down the statue. As with the previous steps, you want this to mirror what occurs in nature. Hence, concentrate on portions where rain would typically flow. The shade of dirt depends on your ratio of paint to water: less water will produce a darker brown; more water will yield a fainter hue.

6. Use red paint to darken the eyes and create a dripping effect. Try to simulate running mascara by exaggerating the streams and bringing them down toward the jawline. Repeat the process with the hands, tracing strands between the fingers and allowing them to run along the curvature of the forearms.

7. Use clear nail polish to give the paint a glossy appearance. I used two coats; however, you are free to apply as many coats as you feel necessary.

8. If you plan to display the prop outside for an extended period of time, consider applying a sealer to prevent the weather from damaging the paint.

*You will not use the entire bottle’s content for this project.