2-Day Silicone Prosthetics Masterclass

Design, Sculpt, Mold, Cast, Paint and Apply Your Own Professional Silicone Prosthetics

Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. No previous silicone prosthetics experience required.

Dates: Saturday, September 5 & Sunday, September 6, 2026
Times: 10:00 AM–8:00 PM each day
Format: Two 10-hour training days with a one-hour lunch break
Instruction: Approximately 18 hours of professional, hands-on training
Instructor: TV & Film Industry FX Artist Dallas Harvey

Take your special effects makeup skills to the next level in this intensive two-day silicone prosthetics class taught by professional film and television FX artist Dallas Harvey.

Students will learn the complete professional process of creating silicone prosthetics and reusable silicone flat molds—from initial concept and clay sculpture through mold making, silicone casting, painting and final makeup application.

Working inside a professional FX studio environment, each student will design and sculpt a custom collection of approximately four to five prosthetic pieces. These may include realistic wounds, medical effects, horror injuries, fantasy features or original character designs.

Students will then create their own silicone flat molds, cast professional encapsulated silicone prosthetics, prepaint their finished pieces and apply selected prosthetics using professional makeup products and film-industry techniques.

This is not a demonstration-only class. Students will complete each stage themselves and leave with their own molds, silicone prosthetics, finished makeup photographs and a custom set of DHFX Studio sculpting tools.

Day One: Silicone Fundamentals, Concept Design and Prosthetic Sculpture

FX Lab Safety and Product Information

Learn how to work safely and professionally inside an FX laboratory.

Topics include:

• Studio organization and safe working practices

• Product information and material handling

• Personal protective equipment

• Ventilation and respiratory protection

• Safe cleanup and disposal procedures

• Understanding the materials used throughout the prosthetic process

Prosthetic Concept Design and Mold Planning

Learn how to develop an idea that can be successfully transformed into a wearable silicone prosthetic.

Students will explore:

• Designing prosthetics for film, television and photography

• Choosing appropriate shapes, sizes and prosthetic locations

• Planning realistic wounds and medical effects

• Developing horror, fantasy and character designs

• Designing pieces with application and movement in mind

• Planning sculptures for efficient flat-mold production

• Understanding placement, blending edges and mold boundaries

Professional Sculpting Tools

Discover the different types of sculpting tools used by professional prosthetic artists and when to use them.

Students will learn how to work with:

• Wire loop tools

• Rake tools

• Texture tools

• Dental tools

• Silicone-tipped tools

• Custom texture stamps

• Skin texture and pore tools

• Solvents and smoothing materials

Sculpting Prosthetics in Clay

Dallas Harvey will demonstrate a variety of professional sculpting methods used to create convincing prosthetic effects in clay.

Demonstrations may include:

• Cuts and lacerations

• Burns and damaged skin

• Swelling and trauma

• Medical conditions

• Horror wounds

• Fantasy textures and features

• Organic character details

• Torn, stretched and irregular skin edges

Students will then design and sculpt approximately four to five original prosthetic pieces of their own creation.

The Professional Sculpting Process

Work through each stage of a prosthetic sculpture—from the first rough shape to the final film-quality surface detail.

Students will learn:

• Blocking out primary forms

• Establishing depth and anatomy

• Refining shapes and transitions

• Creating thin, professional blending edges

• Building believable skin damage and organic forms

• Adding wrinkles, pores and skin texture

• Smoothing and correcting the sculpture

• Avoiding common sculpting and molding problems

• Preparing a finished sculpture for close-up photography and HD cameras

Throughout the process, students will receive individual guidance, professional tips and practical problem-solving advice.

Mold Setup and Preparation

Once the sculptures are complete, students will learn how to properly prepare them for silicone flat-mold production.

Topics include:

• Cleaning and inspecting finished sculptures

• Creating mold walls and containment systems

• Planning mold thickness and support

• Preventing undercuts and trapped air

• Applying appropriate release agents

• Preparing the work area for silicone

• Calculating material quantities

• Setting up multiple sculptures for efficient molding

Day Two: Silicone Flat Molds, Casting, Painting and Application

Silicone Flat-Mold Making

Students will prepare, mix and pour silicone over their completed sculptures to create a reusable set of approximately four to five professional prosthetic flat molds.

Students will learn:

• Selecting the correct mold-making silicone

• Measuring materials accurately

• Mixing silicone safely and consistently

• Brushing and pouring silicone

• Reducing bubbles and surface defects

• Controlling mold thickness

• Creating strong, flexible and reusable molds

• Recognizing and preventing common mold failures

Demolding and Mold Cleanup

Once the molds have cured, students will learn how to safely remove the original clay sculptures and prepare the molds for casting.

Topics include:

• Safe demolding procedures

• Removing clay without damaging fine detail

• Cleaning silicone molds

• Trimming and correcting mold edges

• Inspecting molds for defects

• Repairing minor imperfections

• Preparing molds for encapsulated silicone casting

• Proper mold storage and care

Encapsulation Techniques

Learn the first stage of creating a professional encapsulated, or “gel-filled,” silicone prosthetic with extremely thin, blendable edges.

Students will learn:

• Encapsulating plastic products and their properties

• Product and laboratory safety

• Mixing and reducing encapsulating materials

• Spraying, brushing and layering techniques

• Building consistent encapsulation layers

• Creating thin professional blending edges

• Preparing encapsulated molds for silicone filling

• Preventing wrinkles, tears and weak edges

Silicone Mixing, Tinting and Casting

Explore the different types of silicone used to create high-quality prosthetic makeup appliances.

Students will learn:

• Choosing the correct silicone system

• Understanding silicone ratios and cure times

• Softening silicone for realistic movement

• Measuring and mixing materials accurately

• Creating realistic base skin tones

• Tinting silicone for different complexions

• Developing fantasy and horror colors

• Creating bruising, blood and tissue undertones

• Avoiding air bubbles and incomplete casts

• Filling encapsulated molds

Students will then cast their own collection of custom silicone prosthetics using the molds they created.

Demolding the Finished Prosthetics

Students will carefully remove their cured prosthetics and prepare them for painting and application.

This section covers:

• Removing silicone appliances without damaging the edges

• Powdering and protecting encapsulated prosthetics

• Trimming excess material

• Inspecting pieces for casting defects

• Organizing and storing finished appliances

• Preparing prosthetics for pre-painting

Pre-painting Silicone Prosthetics

Learn how professional FX artists pre-paint silicone prosthetics before application.

Students will work with professional-quality FX paints and makeup products to create:

• Natural skin tones

• Mottling and subtle color variation

• Capillaries and vascular detail

• Bruising and trauma

• Burns and damaged tissue

• Blood and internal tissue tones

• Fantasy and creature coloration

• Translucent, layered effects

The class will also cover color matching, paint transparency, layering and maintaining the natural depth of silicone.

Professional Prosthetic Application and Blending

Students will select several of their custom silicone prosthetics and apply them to themselves.

Application training includes:

• Preparing and cleaning the skin

• Choosing professional prosthetic adhesives

• Positioning the appliance correctly

• Securing the center before the edges

• Dissolving and blending encapsulated edges

• Correcting lifting or damaged edges

• Color matching the prosthetic to the surrounding skin

• Painting across the prosthetic and natural skin

• Adding blood, gloss, texture and finishing details

• Safe removal and skin cleanup

Final Silicone Prosthetic Makeup

Students will complete and photograph their final silicone prosthetic makeup effects.

The finished work can be used for:

• Professional portfolios

• Makeup and FX school applications

• Social media content

• Film and television makeup portfolios

• Personal project development

• Demonstrating practical FX skills to potential clients or employers

What Students Will Create

During the two-day class, each student will work toward completing:

• Four to five original prosthetic sculptures

• A reusable set of silicone prosthetic flat molds

• Multiple encapsulated silicone prosthetic appliances

• Professionally pre-painted silicone prosthetics

• Several completed prosthetic makeup applications

• Portfolio photographs of their finished work

Students will also gain a repeatable professional workflow they can continue using for future prosthetic projects.

Bonus Take-Home Tool Set

Every student will receive a custom set of DHFX Studio prosthetic sculpting tools.

The tools will be used throughout the class and belong to the student afterward, allowing them to continue developing their sculpting and prosthetic-making skills at home.

Who This Class Is For

This intensive is ideal for:

• Special effects makeup artists

• Makeup artists expanding into prosthetics

• Film students and independent filmmakers

• Cosplay and creature artists

• Sculptors and prop makers

• Horror and fantasy artists

• Creative professionals building an FX portfolio

• Artists interested in professional silicone mold making

• Beginners seeking a structured introduction to silicone prosthetics

• Intermediate artists looking to improve their techniques and workflow

The course is designed to combine clear demonstrations with extensive hands-on practice. Limited enrollment allows students to receive direct guidance throughout the sculpting, molding, casting and application process.

Materials and Safety Requirements

All professional prosthetic materials, silicones, clays, encapsulating products, paints, adhesives and general class supplies are provided.

For health and safety, every student must provide and bring their own:

Properly fitted organic vapor respirator with appropriate cartridges

Students will not be permitted to participate in processes requiring respiratory protection without their respirator.

Students should also wear comfortable studio clothing and closed-toe shoes. Some materials and pigments used during the class may permanently stain clothing.

Learn the Complete Silicone Prosthetic Process

Many classes focus on only one stage of prosthetic creation. This intensive teaches the full workflow:

Concept → Sculpture → Mold → Encapsulation → Silicone Casting → Painting → Application

By the end of the weekend, students will understand how professional silicone prosthetics are designed and produced from start to finish—and will have their own molds, appliances, tools and finished makeup work to show for it.

Limited Class Capacity

Silicone prosthetic creation requires detailed, individualized instruction. Class capacity is limited to provide students with meaningful access to the instructor and hands-on support throughout the weekend.

Reserve your seat early to avoid missing this intensive professional training opportunity.