custom props, decorations, costumes, furniture and art. and whatever else strikes our fancy.
Grim Reaper
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).
I then reimagined this display in 2022 at our new home. Since I no longer had a flat roof to work with, I made the grim reaper now emerging from the ground. I carved new hands, added red glowing eyes and painted the whole thing with black light reactive paint.
The mockup. Oooh… Microsoft paint, so scary!
The hands…
2×2’s for structure plastic pipe strapping for knuckles Bones were carved out of 2″ thick rigid wall insulationThe 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 DremelThe burrs are then smoothed with sand paperThe wristSome of bones (and there were more!)Right hand is ready for a final clear coat
The head…
Projected the image onto rigid foam wall insulationThree 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 shadingAirbrushing helped to add depth and contrast
Installation…
Starting the installationThe 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 weightGetting him dressed
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!
Hi! So amazingly frightful! My old neighbor in ravenswood Manor showed me this tonight! We now live in Michigan. Would love to hire you to make the skull and hands. If you are interested please let me know. Thanks!!!
FUNTITLED WORKSHOP 
This is the coolest,best, scariest, most awesome Halloween home decoration I have ever seen! Amazing job!!
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Thanks Kim!
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This is absolutely unbelievable. Way to go!
But also… how do you have a flat roof in Chicago?!
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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. 😉
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Absolutely over the top ( no pun intended) ridiculously
awesome!! Do you ever have to take it down????
Love it!
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Amazing. I’m at awe from your creative art.
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This is so overdue but THANK YOU! That’s really kind of you to say.
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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 🙂
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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!
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I love this its absolutely the best decoration I’ve seen so far. Great Job ❤❤😍
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Thanks so much, Belkis! I really appreciate the time you took to drop me a note!
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Insanely awesome! great job
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Thanks Andrea!
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How much would you charge to make the skull and hands and ship to me in Ohio?
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Hi! So amazingly frightful! My old neighbor in ravenswood Manor showed me this tonight! We now live in Michigan. Would love to hire you to make the skull and hands. If you are interested please let me know. Thanks!!!
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