This is the sixth year that I’ve made Halloween costumes for one or both kids. I guess they really haven’t been costumes so much as hats. One drawback is that the kids have to spend a lot of time explaining what they are. Last year Kelly’s Kingfisher was primarily mistaken for an Angry Bird and a “jay” but also for a “robin” and a “blue bird.” At least Timmy’s Ivory-billed woodpecker was mostly identified as some sort of woodpecker, although its grumpy look made a few people guess Angry Bird as well. The most entertaining suggestion was pterodactyl. Tonight we’ll see what people guess for this year’s hats.
I always feel pressure to beat the previous year’s efforts. My wife, Liesl, got me to start these earlier this year. That is good and bad. These projects are like a gas… they expand to take up any space they are given. The good news is that for the first time I finished the day before Halloween!
This time I gave the kids one limit when they were selecting their bird of choice: They had to agree on the same basic bird type so I could use the same armature for both. This would streamline my production time… in theory. They ended up choosing to be warblers: a Kentucky and a Blackburnian.
Now for the questions I always get…
How long did those take?
This is pretty much the first question everyone asks when they see these. They are probably evaluating just how crazy I am. Well, the quick answer is, “I really don’t know!” That’s probably for the best, since they get worn for a short period of time. On the other hand, I don’t do much sculptural work anymore, other than 3D on computer, so this keeps some old skills in use. That being said, the hats take a ton of time and could probably be used as evidence that I’m certifiably nuts if my wife ever wanted to have me institutionalized. I think she has a pretty extensive list compiled somewhere. Come to think of it, building an eight-foot tall trebuchet “for the kids” a few years back probably didn’t help my cause.
What are they made of?
The bird hats are made of sheet craft foam, hot glue and acrylic paint. The color choices of the foam are pretty limited for a project like this, so I paint the sheets before cutting them to size (and shape).
Below are previous years’ efforts. You can see how the hats have gotten more complicated with time. At the end are a few shots of them during construction.
Nancy Carter
You are amazing! I hope your kids appreciate what a talented dad they have. You want to adopt me? What do you do with them after halloween?
Matt
Thanks Nancy! We have saved all of the old hats and have a stockpile in the kid’s rooms. So far they have held up really well.
Nancy Carter
I would love to see them. Being an avid birder, I am amazed and appreciate your detail. Don’t see you in person any more since Andrew and Ryan (Bean) stopped taking karate. I also never managed to work out a time for a visit from you at scout – our loss. Keep up the great work. N
Matt
Thanks Nancy, I miss seeing you and the rest of the “Bean Crew.” I hope everyone is doing great!
Elizabeth W
Hi Matt and family,
We all loved the bird hats. It was also fun to see the kids growing up through the years.
Incredible DIY Halloween Hats « Tips n Tidbits
[…] these hats, I’m sharing his post instead of writing a new one. You can find the original at Bohan Art, along with several of his paintings, sketches and step-by-step watercolor […]
2015 Halloween Hats « Bohan Art
[…] The hats were made with sheet craft foam, acrylic paint, hot glue, burned fingers and lots of time. You can have a peek at previous Halloween Hats I’ve made here. […]
Robin C.
Wow. I think you might have solved a major problem I have–constructing a Zazu puppet for a middle school production of The Lion King. I do have one question, though. How sturdy is the foam frame work? Would it hold up to being manipulated as a puppet? I am thinking specifically of the head and beak, because that is where I have been struggling for ideas.
Thanks!
Matt
The foam gets stronger with layers and with the added hot glue. As far as making a puppet, I think it could work. A lot would depend on how you make the points that need to articulate. The foam has a lot of drag against more foam. Maybe if you put disks of slippery plastic like #2 milk jug material at contact points where it won’t be seen it would allow it to slip better. It would be worth test or two. There are also a variety of thicknesses of foam available to experiment with. The bigger hats like the Ivory-billed Woodpecker get pretty ungainly as they get larger. That one even had some styrofoam (expanded polystyrene) as support beams inside it. I’ll reply directly in case you have other questions. Best of luck!!!!
Matt
Carole Turek
I would pay big bucks for that hummingbird hat.
Matt
Ha! Thanks for the compliment, Carole. That hat was fun to make, but wouldn’t fit many adults since it was created for my son when he was seven. Although the parts used to make it are inexpensive, the time put into sculpting them is incredibly high.
Anais
you should do an exhibit, these are beautiful, unique and so wonderfully true to the species…congratulations!! as a parent its so hard to find the time to really do projects like these, they are fantastic. I am hoping to make a toucan hat for a kids theater play that we are setting up…i will try to use some of your ideas with foam, though i know my result is going to be anticlimatic to say the least!
Matt
Thanks for compliment. Good luck with your toucan hat for the plat. I bet it turns out great! The foam takes acrylic paint quite well if you need to add a customized color.
Misty
So silly question. My daughter has to do this project where she decorated a pumpkin like a book character. She’s chosen Little Green which is a hummingbird. I think she and I make attempt create something like this and hot glue to the pumpkin. Think that will work?
Matt
I think it is definitely worth a try. The worst that can happen is that you two end up spending time together trying something new! You can get all the supplies you’d need at Hobby Lobby or a similar store. They are made of sheet craft foam and hot glue. If you want, you can get into acrylic paint to match colors more closely, but that might be overkill. They do have some nice glittery green and red foam that I’ve used for humming birds in the past. Unfortunately it is thinner than they other foam sheets. In the previous responses on the blog are some comments about how the hats were made. You can always keep the design simple, with a flatter approach, rather than full 3d… sometimes “less is more” and has a charm to it!
Letricia
Do you provide steps to make these?
Matt
Sorry, I don’t have step-by-step instructions. Basically I make an armature/skeleton as a frame to fit the head and then, paint cut and apply feathers applying them from the neck up to the beak.
Kathryn
Can you show me how you made the white egret?! I’m in desperate need for a school play costume!
Matt
Hi Kathryn,
I don’t have step-by-step instructions for these. Here is the quick version. Using sheet craft foam, I start by making a band around the circumference of the head of the intended wearer and then another over the top of their head. After that I build an armature of foam the approximate size and shape of the bird. Finally I attach feathers from the bottom working my way up to the beak. I use low melt hot glue to attach the feathers. In some cases I paint the sheet foam with acrylic paint before attaching them. I hope that helps!
Jenn Levi
Are your designs for sale? We’d be very very interested! We’ve had our son’s costume designed every year by the Yale School of Drama but have not found a designer to do similar to your creations! Amazing creativity!
Matt
Thanks for expressing interest in the hats! I’ll send you an email privately in response.
Tom Marotta
I am also interested in purchasing one or two of the hats. The Blue Heron, Please. Thank you!
Matt
Thanks, Tom! I send a private message separately.
Donna
Wow. They are the best foam art I have ever seen. I love working with foam sheets . I make purses for myself. I so want to make all your birds but the hummingbird is my favorite. I will give it a go.
Matt
Thanks, Donna. They are fun to make and foam is a fairly versatile material! Best of luck on the project.
Alyssa
Hi Matt! Good to have stumbled upon your very creative and amazing hats. My son has a concert in school and is going to be a toucan, so i have your hat as an inspiration to model to 🙂
How did you connect the beak to the head?
Did you use any wires to maintain or steady the beak? Or just plain foam sheets and hot glue? Thanks!
Matt
I added a few slots to the back of the beak and cut some button holes in the main head. THe slots were put the the holes and glued from the back. No extra support was needed Good luck with the build! Matt
Britt
Hello,
I am also interested in your masques!
I will need one for a theater performance in Belgium.
Do you sell them?
I like to know more about it 🙂
Britt.
Nona
If you are willing to share the designs and how-to instructions, you should ABSOLUTELY publish a book. THESE ARE INCREDIBLE!!!
Matt
Thanks! They were fun to make, but took an unbelievable amount of time. I’m not sure how many people are as crazy as I am and willing to invest in the effort. I guess you never know.
kennedy
yes, publish a book!!!!!!!!
Tammy
I am so impressed with these creations. My 10 year old is obsessed with birds and birding. She wants to be a Great Blue Heron for Halloween this year. Do you, by chance, have any pictures of the heron hats during construction that could give me a better idea of what the interior structure looks like? I’m trying to envision how to make that neck curve. Thanks so much for your inspiration!
Matt
Hi Tammy,
I don’t have any photos of the heron or egret hats being made. Unlike the other hats that were bird heads with internal framework, those had no internal structures. The necks were cut to the basic side profile with extra feathery edges that were glued together to give it the 3D shape. Because they were so thin, they were able to support their own weight without buckling. As a word of warning, the heron/egrets were a little on the dangerous side with the pointy beak. When the kids looked down at the candy they were being given they came close to “pecking” the kind people giving out the treats.
Have a blast!
Matt
Denise
Your hats are so beautiful! I am curious about how you paint the foam. Do you use just regular acrylic paint mixed with water? Do you use brushes to apply it? Thanks so much!
Matt
Yes, with brush and a little water. Not too wet though, just enough to have it go on smoothly.
Eve
Hi there,
I found you while looking for ideas about how to build the bird hat worn by Suzy in Moonrise kingdom.
Thanks for sharing these. I know how much time and effort it takes to make something like this, let alone post them for everyone to enjoy.
Thank you!!!
Matt
Thanks, Eve! I didn’t see Moonrise Kingdom, but Wes Anderson films always have a neat “art look” to them!
Joy
Hello, Matt.
I was so surprised your art!!
My daughter will play about egret. (She is 9)
I want to make the egret hats like this but I never try with sheet form and acrylic paints.. 😭
Where do buy these kinds of materials?
And how did you connect the amateurs of bird frame each other? Just glue or staples?
Joy
Hello, Matt.
I was so surprised by your art!!
My daughter will do play about egret. (She is 9)
I want to make a egret hat like you but I never make something with sheet foam and acrylic paint..
Where do you buy these kinds of materials?
And how did you connect the amateur of bird frame each other? Just glue or staples?
Well,, I don’t know I can make like this but I want to try for my daughter like you. 😀
Matt
Hi Joy,
You can get all the supplies at a place like Hobby Lobby or Michael’s. I prefer Hobby Lobby. I use hot melt Hot GLue. The cooler hot glues don’t work as well on the foam. Good luck! I bet it turns out great.
Matt