One of my favorite things about digital coloring is the ability to play with different hues quickly and easily.
Asputtel Sketches: Old Hags
Here's another thumbnail sketch for my recent Brother's Grimm Asputtel project. This one features the vile stepsisters later in life as old blind hags.
One of my favorite things about digital coloring is the ability to play with different hues quickly and easily.
One of my favorite things about digital coloring is the ability to play with different hues quickly and easily.
Creative Inspiration: Studio Prop Dept. Photos from 1937
Wonderful photos by Margaret Bourke-White inside the Warner Brothers and Paramount Prop Depts. back in 1937. Found these (and more) on the LIFE magazine gallery site.
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| Break-away club and prop filled pockets. |
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| Old time practical effects - unicorn horn for a horse, turtle on wheels to move, knife stabbing gags. |
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| Martha Raye marionette. |
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| Mosquito prop on thread of human hair to make fly. |
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| Spinning faux spider webs. |
Ashputtel Sketches
I'm illustrating posters and promo art for a stage production of Ashputtel.
Ashputtel is the original fairy tale of Cinderella by the Brother's Grimm. If you've never read it... be warned! It's not the warm and fuzzy Disney version. I don't want to spoil it, but death, visiting graves, self mutilation, and birds pecking eyes out are big plot points.
I'm in the early thumbnail sketch stage getting some loose ideas on paper. More later.
Ashputtel is the original fairy tale of Cinderella by the Brother's Grimm. If you've never read it... be warned! It's not the warm and fuzzy Disney version. I don't want to spoil it, but death, visiting graves, self mutilation, and birds pecking eyes out are big plot points.
I'm in the early thumbnail sketch stage getting some loose ideas on paper. More later.
Pumpkin Patch 2012 - Day 1
And once more unto the haunted garden breach, dear friends!
Although I only harvested two tiny pumpkins last year, it felt successful. They were grown from medium sized "Jack O Lantern" labeled seeds. I've decided to improve my odds for larger ones and try using seeds for immense sized pumpkins this time. We'll see what happens. The package says 110 days to harvest and being a little less than 200 days until Halloween, I think my timings good.
Whether I actually get giant pumpkins (or any at all) doesn't matter to me, it's the fun of trying every year I enjoy most.
The Easter Bunny Moves In
Unfortunately, we had to evict the Leprechaun renting our tree space. There were too many complaints from the neighbors about his raucous, late night partying. I don't mind, my bank always made it a hassle depositing the ancient Celtic gold coins he paid in rent every month.
Thankfully, a nice and quiet Easter bunny has moved in.
The Easter display is not as elaborate as I had planned in the sketch. It's a simple revision of the Leprechaun door. The past few weeks were busier than expected, so I didn't get the time hoped for to work on it.
Like the St. Patrick's display, it was enjoyed. The neighborhood was full of families this weekend gathering together for Easter and Passover. The Easter bunny's house was visited by numerous smiling and curious kids. So much so, I've run out of super glue fixing the handle every other hour as they keep breaking it off trying to pull the door open.
New Halloween Ideas for 2012
I've made a radical decision concerning my yard decorating this year. I'm going all-new. Nothing from any past year will be seen again. Below are several sketches of some of the new ideas.
The Abandoned Refrigerator Graveyard - I recently saw several fridges available for FREE on Craig's List. Not only super budget friendly, but will really help to fill up tons of empty space on the lawn.
Scary PETA Zombie - I want to be more socially conscience with my display this year, so I thought this character would work. It's also interactive, giving a fun BOO scare to every Trick or Treater wearing a cute animal costume.
Sidewalk of Holiday Magic - To add more enchantment and not-very-scary elements to the yard for little kids, I'm going to work beloved icons from other holidays into the theme.
The Zany Treat Station - Since the yard, front porch, and driveway will be completely full of new decorations, I'm adding extra space by parking a rented van in the street and will give out candy to kids from there. To be more friendly and inviting this year, I'm also planning to dress up as a cheerful Circus Clown.
I don't think I'm too foolish believing I can get these projects done by October, it's only April 1st. Plenty of time. This could be the best Halloween ever!
The Abandoned Refrigerator Graveyard - I recently saw several fridges available for FREE on Craig's List. Not only super budget friendly, but will really help to fill up tons of empty space on the lawn.
Scary PETA Zombie - I want to be more socially conscience with my display this year, so I thought this character would work. It's also interactive, giving a fun BOO scare to every Trick or Treater wearing a cute animal costume.
Sidewalk of Holiday Magic - To add more enchantment and not-very-scary elements to the yard for little kids, I'm going to work beloved icons from other holidays into the theme.
The Zany Treat Station - Since the yard, front porch, and driveway will be completely full of new decorations, I'm adding extra space by parking a rented van in the street and will give out candy to kids from there. To be more friendly and inviting this year, I'm also planning to dress up as a cheerful Circus Clown.
Hand of Glory Prop: Take 2
The Hand of Glory prop has a bit more age to it now. I weathered the lashing (dark brown paint wash) and gave the candles a layer of grime (yellow ocher tinted Mod Podge). Those elements looked too new in the first version. Small changes that really did make the prop better looking (I think at least).
Hand of Glory Prop
I've created a new prop for my cabinet of curiosities - a Hand of Glory.
The basic legend is, they were used as a tool by thieves well versed in the occult. The severed hand of a robber or murderer, executed for their crimes, was fashioned into a macabre candelabra. For each candle lit, one person in a home would sleep without waking until the flame was put out, allowing a thief to steal away without fear of being caught.
I imagined my Hand of Glory a very old and well used one... traded, bought or killed for by numerous nefarious criminals in dark pubs and alleys over many, many years. The hand has become mummified and skeletal, not as fresh as it was when quickly and crudely, snapped off a forgotten ne'er-do-well pirate's corpse hanging on the gallows long ago. It was created in haste during some dark ritual... an exposed forearm bone was simply lashed a wooden candlestick keeping it upright.
I should mention that although I used real candles in this prop, it was only made to display them, not safely burn them. They were lit just for these pictures, and even then, for only less than a minute.
This piece started as a zombie hand I was making to rise out of the ground for the Halloween yard display this year, but a new idea for it hit me.
The basic legend is, they were used as a tool by thieves well versed in the occult. The severed hand of a robber or murderer, executed for their crimes, was fashioned into a macabre candelabra. For each candle lit, one person in a home would sleep without waking until the flame was put out, allowing a thief to steal away without fear of being caught.
I imagined my Hand of Glory a very old and well used one... traded, bought or killed for by numerous nefarious criminals in dark pubs and alleys over many, many years. The hand has become mummified and skeletal, not as fresh as it was when quickly and crudely, snapped off a forgotten ne'er-do-well pirate's corpse hanging on the gallows long ago. It was created in haste during some dark ritual... an exposed forearm bone was simply lashed a wooden candlestick keeping it upright.
I should mention that although I used real candles in this prop, it was only made to display them, not safely burn them. They were lit just for these pictures, and even then, for only less than a minute.
This piece started as a zombie hand I was making to rise out of the ground for the Halloween yard display this year, but a new idea for it hit me.
Easter Bunny House Sketch
Here's the concept for the Easter Bunny house display. Unlike the Leprechaun tree, the bunny needs a second-story to sleep in. His first floor egg painting workshop takes up a lot of space. There are rumors that underneath the tree, a vast network of tunnels exist which lead to good egg hiding spots across the globe.
Making the Leprechaun Door
I meant to post this the other day, but just plain forgot.
On a general note, my impulsive St. Patrick's Day lawn decorating was a success. The neighborhood reaction (that I saw) brought many smiles. Several passersby made it a photo-op with their kids. My hope to bring a bit of that Halloween and Christmas decorating magic that makes myths real worked. Bring on the Easter Bunny. I wish there was a nationally recognized Giant Squid Day!
But I digress. Here's how I made the Leprechaun door. Know that I knocked it out pretty fast using what materials I had at hand, so there's lots of room for improvement.
The door was cut out of foamcore board. Then scored vertically (where the seams of the wood planks might be), so It could be bent matching the tree trunk curve.
Next it was coated with brown tinted "monster mud" (left over from my yarn bombing tree project). I used a stick to create wood grain and softened the hard lines a bit by going back over with a paint brush.
Once it set up, I painted on a thin coat of green. While still wet I lightly dragged a rag over pulling off paint from the high points, revealing some brown underneath, creating a weathered feel.
The shamrock window frame and hinge plate hardware were cut out of 1/4" thick craft foam.
The hinges themselves were pieces of cardboard tube found on dry cleaner wire hangers. The tips were glued on wood plugs. I also used larger wood plugs for the rivets on the hinge plates.
The door handle was made with Model Magic. A tape roll was used as a jig to wrap the clay around to create a decent circle.
I painted all the hardware with gold spray paint, then pounced on a coat of thinned black acrylic to age and weather them. I glued a sheet of black card stock behind the shamrock window and sprayed with a clear gloss coat to help give a feeling that it's actually glass. In retrospect, I should of used a sheet of clear acetate first, then the black paper. Oh well, next time.
Once all the pieces were dry, they were glued together. I looped two lengths of bailing wire through both sides off the door, and tied around the tree trunk to hold in place.
Leprechaun House
There's a leprechaun living in our tree!
The front lawn display is finished. It's been pouring rain since late last night, so the door was added very quickly this morning and decided to loose a few details I had planned. But I can improve on next year and it's a good prototype for the Easter Bunny house in the works. I'll post a door "making of" tomorrow.
In the meantime, happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
The front lawn display is finished. It's been pouring rain since late last night, so the door was added very quickly this morning and decided to loose a few details I had planned. But I can improve on next year and it's a good prototype for the Easter Bunny house in the works. I'll post a door "making of" tomorrow.
In the meantime, happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
Leprechaun Lantern
The leprechaun door display will be done just in time for tomorrow. The door itself is still drying, but the lantern is finished and out front with the pot o' gold.
I decided it would be fun to have it sitting on top of something, as opposed to just being on the ground as in the sketch. I first started to make a large shamrock, but unfortunately I was rushing it and couldn't get it right. It just looked like a large tropical plant (there's always next year to try again). So I went with a smaller pile of gold coins.
The lantern is an old, tea light holding one from my stash. I decided since it had a pre made hole in the bottom (where the tea light holder unscrews) I could add a bright Christmas bulb in a faux candle to light up the display at night. I first took the lantern apart and painted.
The candle body was made from a cardboard tube and hot glue, then painted.
Next, I created the base by gluing gold coins into a pile, leaving an open space in the center so the light cord could pass through. Then the lantern base was glued on top, then the candle body on top of that. Finally, the lantern was reassembled.
Off to finish the door, more later.
I decided it would be fun to have it sitting on top of something, as opposed to just being on the ground as in the sketch. I first started to make a large shamrock, but unfortunately I was rushing it and couldn't get it right. It just looked like a large tropical plant (there's always next year to try again). So I went with a smaller pile of gold coins.
The lantern is an old, tea light holding one from my stash. I decided since it had a pre made hole in the bottom (where the tea light holder unscrews) I could add a bright Christmas bulb in a faux candle to light up the display at night. I first took the lantern apart and painted.
The candle body was made from a cardboard tube and hot glue, then painted.
Next, I created the base by gluing gold coins into a pile, leaving an open space in the center so the light cord could pass through. Then the lantern base was glued on top, then the candle body on top of that. Finally, the lantern was reassembled.
Off to finish the door, more later.
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