Replicated Material Effects

This is a collection of a few of the techniques I use to decorate my cosplay EVA foam props. These also work for many other decor and projects! All are beginner friendly, and very simple to follow. I hope this helps with your future projects!

(Different effects use different materials. This is a list of everything I used.)

TOOLS

1. Airbrush
2. Paint Brushes
3. Wood Burner
4. Rotary tool
5. Heat gun
6. Craft Knife

MATERIALS

1. Acrylic paint
2. Water Color Paint
3. Mod Podge
4. Baking Soda
5. Green Flocking
6. Gold Leaf
7. Paper Towel
8. Aluminum Paint
9. Spray Clear Coat

Materials and Tools

Craft Knife, Heat Gun

Acrylic Paint, Watercolor Paint, Mod Podge, Green Flocking

I start by scoring my foam with a craft knife, replicating the grain pattern of wood. I also add little cuts and small rough tears to add to more organic look. Go over it with your heat gun to help open up the incisions. After cutting, I apply a generous layer of Mod Podge to the entire surface. Use the heat gun again, but hold it close and allow to heat to wrinkle and bubble. This will add more texture, as well as a protective layer over the foam. Once all the Mod Podge is dry, use a tan acrylic paint as a primer. From there you will use your water color paint to do a wash with a darker brown. I also like to use a fine brush to add additional black contrasting lines with water color paint.

BONUS

If you would like to add moss, use a green watercolor to stain patches around the surface. Once dry, dapple some Mod Podge to the inner parts of those stains and sprinkle the green flocking over.

Seal with a matte clear coat.

Materials and Tools

Air Brush

Acrylic Paint, Paper Towel

Begin by doing a base coat of brown paint. Once dry, use your airbrush to do a light dusting of gold acrylic paint over entire surface. After this layer, you will airbrush a light blue paint over the majority of the surface. BEFORE the blue can dry, use a paper towel to dab away blue paint in areas that would be frequently touched. Think of how bronze statues have those shiny gold spots that are constantly rubbed. After that layer is dry, add additional highlights with gold paint in an airbrush to the areas you rubbed away.

Seal with semigloss clear coat

Materials and tools

Air Brush, Rotary Tool, Heat Gun

Aluminum Oil Paint, Acrylic Paint, Mod Podge, Baking Soda

Start with a base coat of Aluminum Oil Paint. Use your rotary tool to erode and chip away edges, and scuff and scratch the surface. Once you have added that damage, use brown acrylic paint to airbrush your rust patches over the damaged spots. For textured rust, you will mix orange and brown acrylic paint, Mod Podge, and baking soda. Approximately a ratio of 1:1:4. You will want to be left with a gritty paste. Use a paintbrush to stipple and smear the paste onto the areas you want additional buildup. Before paste can dry, use your heat gun and hold close to surface to cause the paint and Mod Podge in mixture to bubble and crack. When entire surface is dry, do a wash of black water color paint across entire project to add additional contrast.

Seal with matte clear coat.

Materials and Tools

Air Brush

Acrylic paint, Mod Podge, Gold Leaf

For this effect, start with a base coat of brown acrylic paint and airbrush a dusting of gold acrylic paint over surface. Once dry, brush a thin layer of Mod Podge over surface. Lay a sheet of gold leaf over the surface, then use either your finger or a rough brush to give the gold a crackled effect.

Seal with gloss clear coat.

Thanks for your time!