For Halloween 2017, I wanted to take advantage of my home’s flat roof and parapet wall to make a decoration that was interacting with its environment. I came up with the skeleton idea, made a crude mock-up and used my own proportions – skull, forearm, fingers, etc. – to plan a creature that would stand 45 feet tall (if you could see it all, which you thankfully can’t).
The hands…
2×2’s for structure plastic pipe strapping for knuckles
Bones were carved out of 2″ thick rigid wall insulation
The tools of the trade… drywall saw and extendable shop knife.
Roughed in left hand (the one that will be grabbing the porch)
Smoothing the angles with a Dremel
The burrs are then smoothed with sand paper
The wrist
Some of bones (and there were more!)
Right hand is ready for a final clear coat
The head…
Projected the image onto rigid foam wall insulation
Three layers of 2″ thick foam were glued together for the skull.
Starting the carving process. Using a reciprocating saw helped the process go a little faster.
Sealed, base coat and some initial shading
Airbrushing helped to add depth and contrast
Installation…
Starting the installation
The skull itself is a little over 6 feet. On its frame it’s almost 9 feet tall.
Structure for shoulders (or weird little stick arms)
Left arm: 2x2s with garden netting to give a little more mass without adding weight
Getting him dressed
And the finished product…
FUNTITLED WORKSHOP 
This is the coolest,best, scariest, most awesome Halloween home decoration I have ever seen! Amazing job!!
LikeLike
Thanks Kim!
LikeLike
This is absolutely unbelievable. Way to go!
But also… how do you have a flat roof in Chicago?!
LikeLike
Thanks Nick! It’s 11% grade… similar to a lot of 2 or 3 flats in the city. I jokingly call our little box of a house a 1-flat duplex down. 😉
LikeLike
Absolutely over the top ( no pun intended) ridiculously
awesome!! Do you ever have to take it down????
Love it!
LikeLike
Amazing. I’m at awe from your creative art.
LikeLike
This is so overdue but THANK YOU! That’s really kind of you to say.
LikeLike
Fantastic! You were a hit on my Instagram! Can’t wait to see what you create next. From: Laura and Dan, your neighbors across the street 🙂
LikeLike
Hey neighbors! Now I’m totally preoccupied with where “across the street” might be. 🙂 I’m working on Christmas now; should go up in the next week. Thanks so much for the note!
LikeLike
I love this its absolutely the best decoration I’ve seen so far. Great Job ❤❤😍
LikeLike
Thanks so much, Belkis! I really appreciate the time you took to drop me a note!
LikeLike
Insanely awesome! great job
LikeLike
Thanks Andrea!
LikeLike
How much would you charge to make the skull and hands and ship to me in Ohio?
LikeLike