The Sasquatch is an enduring staple of American folklore. This fabled ape-man, believed to live in remote forested areas of western North America, has been an object of fascination for centuries. There have been countless reported sightings and a few blurry pictures taken of the reclusive beast, but its existence has not yet been proven. The most common items offered as evidence of Sasquatch are plaster casts of large human-like footprints allegedly left by the creatures. The twenty-four-inch-long footprints inspired the legendary creature's nickname of "Bigfoot." Since it is highly unlikely that you or I will chance upon actual Sasquatch tracks while taking a casual hike in the woods, it would be much easier to simply make your own plaster casts of Bigfoot prints at home.
Why make casts of fake Sasquatch prints? Personally, I enjoy the aesthetic properties of plaster casts and appreciate them as decorative art. To me, their lack of authenticity does not detract from their rough-hewn beauty. It is true that many well-known masterpieces of classical Greek sculpture displayed in museums are actually later Roman copies of long-lost original Greek statues. Only through reverently produced Roman copies, made years after the Classical Greek period, can we appreciate these fine examples of the Classical Greek style. I believe the same standard can be applied to Bigfoot casts. Even if the casts are not authentic, we can still use them to imagine the magnificence of the mighty Sasquatch. Although the creation of many Bigfoot casts may have been motivated by the desire to defraud and deceive, I choose to admire the ingenuity and creativity behind the objects. Making your own versions of these unusual works would not only allow you to experience the joy of creation, but to hold in your hands an item which can generate genuine feelings of mystery and wonder.
Bigfoot casts can be manufactured in a simple three-part process: First, you create a replica of a Sasquatch foot. Second, using the replica Sasquatch foot, make a footprint. The footprint will be used to mold a cast. The third and final procedure is making the actual cast by pouring quick-drying cement into the mold. To complete the project, you will need the following materials: paper, modeling clay, varnish, two handles or knobs, epoxy, plaster of Paris, and about one square yard of mud. The tools you will need are a pencil, a paintbrush, a wooden spoon, and possibly a ruler.
Start by making a replica of a Sasquatch foot (actually, just the bottom of the foot) using about five pounds of modeling clay. A five-pound slab of clay will cost between ten and twenty dollars at an art supply store. Before sculpting the replica foot, it is best to sketch out a drawing first and use the drawing as a template. On a large piece of paper (at least 18"x24"), draw the outline of a foot approximately twenty-four inches long and eight inches wide. If you lack the drawing skills to sketch a reasonable likeness of a foot, trace your own foot on a piece of paper and enlarge the image using a grid system. A grid system is quite simple: after tracing your foot on paper, use a ruler and a pencil to superimpose a grid over the traced image of your foot with the lines one inch apart. On another piece of paper, draw a larger grid with the lines two inches apart. Make sure that both grids have the same number of squares, number the squares, and copy the image from each square of the smaller grid onto the larger grid. If you have small feet, increase the size of the second grid accordingly. If you have extremely large feet, disregard the replica and simply make a cast of your own footprint.
Lay the finished drawing on a flat surface and fill the entire area inside the lines with several inches of clay. Carefully manipulate the clay to resemble features of a foot: the toes, ball, and heel. Loosely follow the contours of a human foot but enlarge the heel toward the ball and toe area to give the appearance of a flattened arch. Round all of the edges for a natural appearance. When finished, let the clay replica foot dry for twenty-four hours at room temperature. When dry, seal the clay with varnish to protect it from moisture. Using a paintbrush, apply varnish to the entire foot. Remember that the fumes can be toxic, so only use varnish in a well-ventilated area. Allow six to eight hours for the varnish to dry, then use epoxy to attach a handle or knob near each end on the flat side of the foot.
Now you are ready to make the footprint. The mud should be soft enough to push the foot in without much effort, but dry enough to hold the shape of the impression. Before making the impression, test the consistency of the mud with your thumb and sprinkle a thin layer of loose dirt over the mud to prevent the mud from sticking to the replica foot. Reddish, iron-rich soil is preferred. In addition to its practical purpose, the residual dirt will leave a nice brick-colored patina on the finished cast. Place the replica foot in the mud with the flat side up, put pressure on the foot and, holding the handles, gently rock it back and forth to create an even impression. Pull upward on the handles to remove the replica foot and inspect the impression. The footprint should be uniformly even and at least one and one half inches deep in order to make a good cast. Toes and other features of the foot should be fully discernable. The mud impression should be left to dry for several hours before mixing the cement.
Use a two-gallon capacity bucket to mix the plaster of Paris with water. Plaster of Paris is a readily available, quick-drying, lightweight cement and a four-pound container can be found at most home improvement stores for less than ten dollars. The combination of plaster of Paris and water generates a heat-producing chemical reaction that can cause burns, so wear gloves and goggles to avoid injury. Fill the bucket with about three quarts of water. Add a small amount of the powdered plaster mix to the water and stir with a large wooden spoon. Slowly add more plaster and stir until the mix is a smooth pudding-like consistency. If the mixture is too thick it will not pour, and if it is too watery it will not set correctly.
Before pouring the plaster into the mold, sprinkle a few pine needles, twigs, leaves, or small pebbles into the mold to create a nice, realistic looking texture. Pour the plaster slowly and evenly, starting with the toes and moving in the direction of the heel - this will prevent the wet plaster from picking up and moving loose debris to the more detailed toe area. Smooth the plaster over the mold with the wooden spoon.
The cement will take only a few minutes to set, but you should allow several hours of drying time before removing it from the mold. The mold cannot be re-used, so it is not necessary to be dainty or graceful in removing the cast - just grab it by the edges and lift. After removal, use a dry cloth or brush to gently remove excess dirt and debris while leaving the imbedded particles in the cast and preserving the gritty exterior surface.
The finished product will be a unique, one-of-a-kind, work of art that can proudly be displayed on your mantle or in your trophy case. Fake Sasquatch footprint casts make great gifts for friends interested in the paranormal, conspiracy theorists in the family, and that co-worker that you don't know but whose name you drew in the office "Secret Santa" gift exchange. However, if you decide to sell your casts at a souvenir shop or swap meet, you should inform prospective buyers that the cast is not of an actual Sasquatch footprint.