Dark Crystal Skeksis Costume
Intro: Dark Crystal Skeksis Costume
this is my 2009 halloween costume:
A Skeksis from the 1982 Jim Henson film The Dark Crystal.
It was a full body costume, complete with hand-puppet head and blinking eyes.
Est. cost: $120
Est. weight: 9.5 lbs
Est. time: 7 weeks & 350 hours
A Skeksis from the 1982 Jim Henson film The Dark Crystal.
It was a full body costume, complete with hand-puppet head and blinking eyes.
Est. cost: $120
Est. weight: 9.5 lbs
Est. time: 7 weeks & 350 hours
STEP 1: Things You Will Need
liquid latex,
matress foam (I used memory foam),
plastic canvas,
thread,
glue gun w/ glue sticks,
coat hanger,
rubber ball w/eye design,
plastic teeth (i used a caveman necklace),
monster gloves,
foam swimming pool noodle,
Jedi costume robe,
brown fabric,
freaky fabric,
latex paint,
matte spray,
gloss spray,
duct tape,
Velcro
matress foam (I used memory foam),
plastic canvas,
thread,
glue gun w/ glue sticks,
coat hanger,
rubber ball w/eye design,
plastic teeth (i used a caveman necklace),
monster gloves,
foam swimming pool noodle,
Jedi costume robe,
brown fabric,
freaky fabric,
latex paint,
matte spray,
gloss spray,
duct tape,
Velcro
STEP 2: Puppet Head
I constructed the head using plastic canvas & thread. then I sealed the seams with hot glue. A safety pin on each side acts as a hinge for the jaw.
STEP 3: Making the Harness
the harness is constructed to fit like a backpack. put together similar to the head: sewn together with thread, then hot glued. duct tape is then put over the hot luge for added stability. See the big black part? Thats where I will see out of!
STEP 4: Carving the Foam
I glued memory foam to the skeleton, then carved into shape, then coated with 3 layers of liquid Latex.
There is an instructable already made that does a much better job of how to make this part:
https://www.instructables.com/id/Creating-a-Demon-Costume/
Credit where Credit is due, baby!
There is an instructable already made that does a much better job of how to make this part:
https://www.instructables.com/id/Creating-a-Demon-Costume/
Credit where Credit is due, baby!
STEP 5: Inside of Mouth
Carved the inside of mouth seprately, applied 3 layers of latex, then glued into mouth.
Then I added teeth from a caveman necklace. To do this, I dug out little holes down to the plastic canvas, addad a dab of hot glue, then coated teeth with one layer of liquid latex, to close the seam from the teeth holes. After painting, latex is removed from teeth. latex is also applied to the seam where the inside mouth piece meets the rest of the puppet head.
Then I added teeth from a caveman necklace. To do this, I dug out little holes down to the plastic canvas, addad a dab of hot glue, then coated teeth with one layer of liquid latex, to close the seam from the teeth holes. After painting, latex is removed from teeth. latex is also applied to the seam where the inside mouth piece meets the rest of the puppet head.
STEP 6: Arms
I cut a swimming pool noodle in half, and used the for the arms. one arm will actually be MY arm, while the other will be a fake, held up with the noodle. i put two noodles so i can switch back & forth.
STEP 7: Painting Head
Acrylic paints used : midnight blue, red, coffee, tan, light blue, yellow. Mixed with a little bit of liquid latex to give a more solid structure.
start with a blue base and work from there. I tried to think of this as more of a painting, as upposed to a real creature. in other works i used black to paint in subtle shading in crevises, and i thnk it worked out well. From the eyes to the beak i blended the colore from blue to a dark brown/orange with purple accents.
Duct tape over the eyes to prevent accidental painting
... oh THE EYES! I forgot!
start with a blue base and work from there. I tried to think of this as more of a painting, as upposed to a real creature. in other works i used black to paint in subtle shading in crevises, and i thnk it worked out well. From the eyes to the beak i blended the colore from blue to a dark brown/orange with purple accents.
Duct tape over the eyes to prevent accidental painting
... oh THE EYES! I forgot!
heres how i made the eyes. I wont take credit, as I followed this guys tutorial:
STEP 8: Protecting in the Head
After it was all done, head was coated with matte spray protective coating, and Gloss coating for the inside of the mouth, to make it look wet & gross. i put about 2 coats each, with about a a day to dry each layer.
STEP 9: The Body
I used an Old Jedi robe. This is the front of the costume. I used more brown fabric for the top and back of the costume.
Glued freaky fabric (thats what its called, its sold during halloween. Its a spooky decoration for walls) to back and arms, to look desheveled.
The monster gloves I bought were Red, so I painted them to match the head, Spray Matted them, then glued them to the sleeves.
Velcro is places on the inside of gloves and on the Noodle Arms, so i can place then there securely.
Glued freaky fabric (thats what its called, its sold during halloween. Its a spooky decoration for walls) to back and arms, to look desheveled.
The monster gloves I bought were Red, so I painted them to match the head, Spray Matted them, then glued them to the sleeves.
Velcro is places on the inside of gloves and on the Noodle Arms, so i can place then there securely.
STEP 10: Attatching Head to Body
I attatched the head to the body with 3 big safety pins. The black mesh is covered with some more freaky fabric. No one can see in , but I can see out perfectly!
STEP 11: Finished Costume
Keep in mind that is is a bit taxing, since most of the weight is on your neck and shoulders. Also, drink plenty of water, because it gets hot!
I wore this for 6 hours. During that, I took 4 breaks by going to the bathroom, taking it off and wiping the sweat off my face.
Trust me, this is not the type of costume you want to wear if you want to party hard. In this costume, 5 beers will feel like a 12 pack. the upside is youll just have a couple and save money!
I should have a video up showing the costume in motion by the end of March.
Good luck and have fun!
I wore this for 6 hours. During that, I took 4 breaks by going to the bathroom, taking it off and wiping the sweat off my face.
Trust me, this is not the type of costume you want to wear if you want to party hard. In this costume, 5 beers will feel like a 12 pack. the upside is youll just have a couple and save money!
I should have a video up showing the costume in motion by the end of March.
Good luck and have fun!
32 Comments
rgibor9883 3 years ago
Vjalc 4 years ago
5Meats 4 years ago
Dinoman217 9 years ago
The original Skeksis took 5 guys to puppeteer! Your version is cool, but I would have a friend in the costume as well to puppeteer the arms!
starwarsgeek1 9 years ago
This costume reminds me of the pterodactyl from Dark Wing Duck! Love it though.
zomfibame 10 years ago
disen5 12 years ago
bryandhispup 12 years ago
Dea della Luna 12 years ago
juicymoose 12 years ago
dbyrd 13 years ago
Dr. Pepper 13 years ago
Bandaids 13 years ago
cowsclimbtrees 13 years ago
valhallas_end 14 years ago
Always a classy party when 24 and Skeksis are there.
Fildain 14 years ago
valhallas_end 14 years ago
Ahh dissembling. Plus 21 is fairly buff lately.
5Meats 14 years ago
valhallas_end 14 years ago
Out of curiosity, what were the reactions to your costume? I haven't seen Crystal in a looong time now - it hasn't become obscure by any means, but I can't imagine everyone knowing who you were right off the bat.
5Meats 14 years ago
10 - 15 people knew what the costume was.
Since then, I am glad to say more have seen the film, because they wanted to know the story behind the costume.
It is my favorite film, and i feel is an important piece of work in light of todays CGI dependant industry.