Popcorn Bucket Mods by DavidB
(NOT FOR SALE)
Movie themed Popcorn buckets are all the rage this summer!
The wax cardboard buckets has evolved into what can often be beautifully sculpted works of art. While not the most practical, a take-home souvenir from your night at the movies has drawn the crowds back to theaters after years of lackluster numbers attending theaters over the last 4 years.
From the famous ghost-traps from Ghostbusters to the infamous Dune movie tie-in misstep, the big theaters that are creating these new collectibles are AMC, Cinemark and Regal. With AMC theaters releasing an amazing Bat Signal bucket that sold out in hours, these buckets have been a treasure hunt of sorts. Two of our favourites have been the most recent offerings from Aliens Resurrection, and one of our most inspirational movies (currently having a huge resurgence of interest) Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – in theaters this week!
Always inspired to stretch his artistic skills, DavidB has been working on “modding” a few of these buckets in our new art space. A toy (or popcorn bucket) “mod” is a way to enhance the plastic item using the original sculptor’s attention to details in not only the shape and form of the IP, but also the textures that are not always as visible in the original, often single colour plastic form.
First DavidB primes the piece with a base colour spray paint, then builds up layers of other paint colours. Using techniques such as dry brushing and wet colour washes bring out these textures and adds a real depth and realism to the somewhat flat look of the original plastic piece.
Often an enamel spray top coat is applied last, adding a little bit of strength to the paint. In the case of the Alien Xenomorph bucket (Regal theaters), multiple high gloss coats were added to add a wet drippy feel. While for an old, dry feel a clear, Flat coat was added to the BeetlejuiceBeetlejuice shrunken head character Bob!
Beetlejuice Bob Before
Beetlejuice Bob After
Final touches can really sell the “story” of the mod – the last touch DavidB added to the Alien head was to use a good old glue-gun to add dripping liquid to really sell the wet, drippy feel of the monster from this popular franchise.
Alien Before
Alien After
You can follow more of DavidB’s artistic creations on his personal Instagram account
#popcornbucket #alien #beetlejuicebeetlejuice #keepmakingart