Floor Boards

These floor boards have been a pesky business, after cutting out, scratching and varnishing each one ready to be stuck down, I was quickly advised by David that floor boards in medieval time were actually much longer as that was the easiest way for them to cut and place quickly. This was a large oversight on my part which I should have researched and realised sooner rather than waste a lot of time – lesson learned.

I have now cut and varnished the proper floor boards ready to use which look good. Hopefully I can use the old floor boards elsewhere so as to not waste the time and material used on them.

The Welcome Collection

The Welcome Collection was an incredibly thought-provoking visit upon the recommendation of a flat mate, looking deep into the anatomy and insight of different cultures as well as the history of medicine. A fascinating exhibition looking at how different artists interpret the body really expanded some of the ways I think about structure and understand how people cope with life when thrown a bad hand (pun unintended).

It’s not exactly relevant to the current project, but I found looking at some of the old prosthetic limbs really interesting, almost cyborg or android like, which is perhaps something I will explore more in the future.

 

Stone Wall

This wall was quite an arduous task of getting right, I’m still not quite sure I’m finished with it as I keep seeing little things to add or take away, but I am happy with how its turned out and think its a convincing take on a stone wall. I found the key to getting it right was to make the painting as random as possible, to give it a real stoney feel.

I used kapaline foam board and tore the protective paper off revealing this easy to mark foam. After I engraved it using the back of a scalpel and technical pencil, I started painting areas with different shades of grey, although I soon realised I should have used wet brushing to get in all the cracks and crevices before instead of after this so as to make sure non of the foam is showing through. However, after some more finer work, I used a dry brushing technique to give it a lovely rocky finish.

Medieval Table

I made this table out of PVC plastic and obeche wood, which has been sanded, scratched and painted with acrylic as well as a varnish to look like an authentic wooden table, which I like to think is pretty convincing!

Making Some Barrels and Stools

Over Christmas I decided to make a start on my colour model, and after a quick trip to the amazing 4D Model shop, I made a couple of barrels and a few stools to get a better idea of how it would turn out. I was pleasantly surprised with them and am really pleased with the final product, I’m sure I will go back into them later on to give them more of an aged look along with everything else, but a good start so far.

Using White card for the barrels I cut out the plank shapes, engraved and wore them down a bit before slightly bending them, then painted with acrylic and stuck them together. I then used painted paper for the metal strips along the outside of the top and bottom of the barrels.

I used PVC plastic for the stools so that I could sand and round the edges, then cut into them to give it that authentic bar stool look. Then painted using acrylic.

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GUNPOWDER – BBC Drama

Gunpowder is a show which didn’t quite grip me through its story(perhaps because the ending was preordained through years of Firework nights), but mostly through its sublime use of grotesque sets and gorgeous lighting. Every inch of every shot is either full of thick, oozing mud or dark chiseled candle light, which brought that world alive for me. Throughout I was thinking to myself how much I just didn’t want to be there, which I think is testament to how well this shows lighting and sets were put together. The use of constant contrasting light between harsh, cool and sinister to the warm candles in the homes and pub scenes really set this short series apart from the rest. Sets that stood out to me include the Tower of London which felt like a foul labyrinth you’d never wish to stay in, or the executioners block where by far the most gruesome scene takes place, I found to be cold and eery, a set and scene that draws you in and something I wont be forgetting for some time.

WARNING: Embargoed for publication until 00:00:01 on 17/10/2017 – Programme Name: Gunpowder – TX: n/a – Episode: n/a (No. 1) – Picture Shows: Thomas Wintour (EDWARD HOLCROFT), Robert Catesby (KIT HARINGTON) – (C) Kudos – Photographer: Robert Viglaski

This series confirmed to me that I wish to create a period set, more specifically a tavern as I think it fits my chosen location perfectly. Whether I do a fantasy take on this I am unsure, but look forward to getting started on it.

White Card Model

I enjoyed seeing my white card model slowly grow as I completed each part and put it together, and imagine this feeling will be times a thousand when I start the realistic colour model. Having said that, I did find it incredibly fiddly and the white card was a right pain at times to cut such fine detail without ruining it, but after much perseverance and many stair rails later I managed to complete the model. Certain aspects could be improved upon where edges could be finer and more flush, but all in all I think it is something to be proud of.

Technical Drawing

Finally finishing this technical drawing was a massive relief for me, taking me far longer than I would have liked and resulted in me having to start my white card model before being able to complete the drawing. This surprised me as on the surface I assumed it would be a viable task, however figuring out where items were and had to be placed in relation was tricky to wrap my head around at times as I wanted to make sure it was correct. I also believe my writing could do with some improvements, which along with becoming a better and faster technical drawer, will come hand in hand. Having completed it I am excited to push on with my white card model and making it look as good as possible.

1/25 Scale Person

Learning how to scale down to 1/25:

Ear Sculpting Complete

After much pain and torment over the last couple of weeks trying to get this ear right, I have finally finished it. Adding little by little, moulding this piece of clay around its been a surreal experience, becoming more and more engrossed as time flies around you. I feel I could carry on for many an hour longer pushing the clay around, but finally seeing it come to fruition it is satisfying to move onto the next project.

Over the course of these two weeks i’ve learnt a lot; From plaster casting objects in the Casting Workshop and welding in the Metal Workshop to the idea of scaling an object up in clay by creating grids and understanding 3D perspective, its been an exciting period and I can’t wait to try these in my own practices.