Acacia Tree Theater Prop: Armature Complete

Six rolls of duct tape (reinforce wire structure and smooth out the hexagon shape of the wire) and two rolls of chicken wire later, the armature for the tree is complete.  Now to cover with papier mache...

Acacia Tree Prop: Armature (Chicken Wire/Duct Tape)

Constructed out of chicken wire with 18 gauge steel wire and cable ties for joining section wire branches, the armature is about 40% complete.  Duct tape (and later plastic bags/kraft paper) applied over chicken wire to further increase support and smooth out the surface so that the pattern of the wire does not show through the papier mache.

Since there will be three stepstools at the base of the tree, the bottom four feet of armature (seen here as exposed wire. Duct tape starts at the 4 ft 1 inch mark). There is a height limitation with the ceiling in the garage where I am constructing the prop so the next stage will be removing the bottom 4 foot section in order for the second trunk segment to rest on the floor. This will enable me to build the upper branches so they reach the correct height when installed at the school.

Theater Prop - 20ft wide acacia tree in papier mache - Grid/Sketch

With the exception of tomorrow night's post which will be an art lesson for elementary students re: pointillism, the next few days will feature images and notes regarding the construction of an Acacia tree prop needed for a local elementary school production.

Sketch of Acacia tree over grid.

Here is a rough list of the steps I like to take in creating props:

1. Meet with the director and discuss the needs for the production. This includes overall look, size, color, budget, and deadline.
2. Make a few sketches to run by the director to verify the prop you intend to create has the look and feel that they also had in mind.

Grid in Photoshop of area where prop
will be installed

3. Take measurements.  Take measurements again. The old adage "Measure twice, cut once" applies here.
    4.  I like to take photographs of the setting and then create a grid in Photoshop to fully visualize the space (top photo).  I then attach a sheet of tracing paper over the grid photo (tracing paper as it is thin enough to see the grid underneath) and sketch the prop to scale (bottom photo).  This tree will be one of the larger props (20 ft w x 10-12 ft h x 4-5 ft deep) I have done (www.merrikindesigns.com/costumesprops.aspx to see the pirate ship which is the largest at 30 feet in length)

Tomorrow's post: Creating the skeletal framework.

Collaborative Art Projects with Kids

My son, Ernie, gave me a sketch this morning and suggested it would make a great earring design - and then asked if he could make money from the sale if I used the design based on his drawing.

Actually it's not a bad idea...might be a good way to encourage creativity, learn to work with others, and give a means of earning extra money through work efforts.  And to encourage saving, I have offered the following deal to my son: Receive 25% of the gross sale if the money is wanted now or put the money in savings for college and earn 50%.

Today's page from my sketchbook features Ernie's original drawing (upper left), a modified drawing with notes on possible design changes and then a rough polymer clay version. Not sure if I will keep as polymer clay or try a version in fused glass...but will post a photo of the final earrings in a future post.

Artist Takahiro Iwasaki: Art from Ordinary Objects - You'll Never Look at Duct Tape the Same Way Again

Iwasaki.www.thisiscolossal.com



Iwasaki.www.thisiscolossal.com

 

Iwasaki. www.thisiscolossal.com

Or look at thread from a towel and toothbrush bristles in the same manner either for that matter.  Amazing what Takahiro Iwasaki can create from everyday objects.  I can barely thread a needle without squinting - can't begin to imagine the eye strain involved with constructing a ferris wheel from sewing thread. Never would I look at a roll of electrical tape and think it a worthwhile carving medium yet Iwasaki creates a topographical map from one.

For more images of work by Iwasaki, see Colossal, a blog started/edited by Christopher Jobson (Chicago, IL) that focuses on non digital art (in many forms) with roughly 20-25 artists featured each week. A worthwhile read.

Artist of Note: Emily Haworth of Etsy shop, By Beep

E. Haworth from Etsy.com

Emily Haworth, Illustrator and Jewelry Maker (Chicago, IL)

An artist after my own heart. I love her ingenuity and curiosity to see where her art takes her.  Emily Haworth, a Chicago based freelance illustrator and jewelry maker, creates intricate and playful wearable paper sculptures.

Take a look at this interesting artist (love her paintings too!). She can be found at www.emilyhaworth.com as well as on Etsy under the shop name, ByBeep.

See here, for Etsy blog article about Emily Haworth's work and more images of her whimsical works.

Journal kept by E. Haworth from Etsy.com

The Wicked Sea by E. Haworth from Etsy.com

Since then, jewelry-making and I decided to get to know each other better. I started creating pieces of jewelry with no direction or purpose other than to see what I was capable of. This is the greatest lesson I learned as a beginner — to explore all the ideas in your mind no matter how different they are from each other. Eventually, you will create a piece that connects with you in a special way and you’ll say, “This is it. This is the direction I will go.”  - Emily Haworth

Rag Doll Polymer Clay Switchplate Cover - Finished

Rag Doll, Copyright 2013 by C. Musser, Polymer Clay on
Nylon Switchplate

Took a little while longer than I anticipated, but here is the polymer clay version of the rag doll switchplate cover sketch from last week.  Button eyes came from a fabulous button mold from MoldMeShapeMe on Etsy.com.  Hair bows came from a high quality silicone mold from Etsy shop, MoldMuse.

Loved working with the silicone molds with polymer clay - just mist the mold with water and the poly clay comes out with ease.  Also, it is possible to bake polymer clay in the molds themselves since the silicone will withstand the heat of the oven.

Working with silicone molds makes me want to try creating my own molds for frequently used polymer clay components - I suspect there shall be a post about this in the near future.

Original sketch for Rag Doll can be found in this post (February 13, 2013)