Foam Pear Plaque

Materials:

plastic foam: 1/2" sheet 7" x 14"
two 5-7/8" x 3-7/8" foam eggs
1" foam scraps for sanding
joint compound (found in home centers)
foam glue
acrylic paint: true ochre, French vanilla, buttermilk, titanium white, sable brown
black marker
ruler
serrated knife
220-grit sandpaper

1. Cut foam eggs in half lengthwise. Only three egg halves will be used.

2. Cut top 1/2-inch off one egg (figure A).

3. Place marks across egg, 1-1/2 inch from top (figure B). Connect marks to create line. Repeat to create second line 2-1/2 inches from top (figure C).

4. With a thick scrap, sand between areas. Angle sanding foam toward 1-1/2-inch marks to create deeper groove along that line. When complete, groove should be 3/8 inch at deepest point (figure D).

5. Sand foam above groove to match depth of groove (figure E).

6. Foam sand to slope and round top of pear (figure F).

7. Foam sand below groove to create soft curve, from groove to higher center section (figure G).

8. Foam sand on left and right sides to narrow. Sand sides to round. Sand along bottom to flatten slightly. Sand to round.

9. Sand small groove in top back of pear to mimic hollow for stem. Center should be 1/4 inch across and 1/4 inch deep (figure H).

10. Create shallow hollow on pear bottom. When sanding is complete, this pear should be approximately 5-1/4 inches tall, 3-3/4 inches at widest, and 2 inches at top of pear. Repeat to create two more pears, but don't make exactly same. Cut off top of one on slant, creating groove to match slant. Make one's neck narrower, wider or longer (figure I).

11. Foam sand backs of pears make sure flat.'

12. Cut a 6-1/2" x 14" rectangle from 1/2-inch foam for plaque. Set aside.

13. For stems, cut five 3/8" x 1" pieces of 1/2-inch foam.

14. Compress foam by pressing opposite corners in. Form into cone shape, narrowest 1/4 inch and widest 5/16 inch (figure J). Set stems aside.

15. Glue pears to plaque (figure K). Glue stems in hollows. Allow to dry 12 hours.

16. Cover pears, front and sides of plaque with layer of joint compound (figure L). Allow to dry.

17. Apply compound to back. Allow to dry.

18. Sand pears, being careful not to over sand. There will be pits and valleys, yet pears should not feel rough to touch. Foam showing in an area 1/4 inch or larger will need to be recoated, allowed to dry and sanded (figure M).

19. Base coat pears and plaque in antique white. Brush true ochre over pears. This is translucent paint, brush on smoothly. Add water to get into nooks and crannies.

20. When dry, dry brush pears with buttermilk (figure N).

21. Highlight areas of pears with French vanilla dry brush (figure O).

22. Wash stems with sable brown. Dry brush with buttermilk.

23. Dry brush buttermilk over antique white plaque. Highlight areas of plaque with titanium white dry brush.

Optional hangers: Use 2 inches of 18-gauge wire and needle-nose pliers to make hangers. Bend wire at a 90-degree (right) angle 7/8 inch from one end. Make another bend 1/4 from that bend to make a U. Bend the bottom 3/8 inch of the U up at a 45-degree angle. Insert a hanger into the back of your creation, prongs toward the top and at slight angle.