Monday, March 31, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Lightbulbs or Hot Air Balloons?
Cutting lightbulbs with string and fire to make the foundation for hot air balloons:
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Friday, March 21, 2014
Let's build a VERY large canvas
The backdrop for this project is about 10'/4' and that means I need to learn to build my own canvas:
Ellen showing scale. This thing is huge!!!
Friday, March 14, 2014
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Horses Test. One of many more.
I'm getting there, but the back legs still need a lot of work. It is a lot tougher to get the breakup with so much more material in the hind quarters.
)
Monday, March 10, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
It's a Great Day when Horses Neigh!
Hazzah! I've finally figured out the process for casting the horses for the carousel.
Originally, the goal was to make a silicone mold of a horse that I sculpted, and then cast a silicone horse (with an armature inside) within that mold. From there, the plan was to make 12 molds of the silicone horse in the 12 positions of the zoetrope... but... making the silicone horse with the armature was A LOT more challenging than anticipated.
The silicone was too dense before it cured to get into all of the fine details of the mold—especially the legs of the horse. Once cured the silicone was not dense enough and even the most flexible armatures were tearing through. I began looking for a new material to cast in.
The solution that I have found is casting the horses in a two part urethane plastic with an armature. Although the product is fairly brittle, I am able to heat the plastic after curing and bend the legs into position. The armature holds the legs together where any cracks form, and I fill the cracks with Magic Sculpt (a resin with hardens overnight). This technique makes it so that I do not have to make an additional 12 molds and casts!
I have also started testing options for the paint pallet:
Originally, the goal was to make a silicone mold of a horse that I sculpted, and then cast a silicone horse (with an armature inside) within that mold. From there, the plan was to make 12 molds of the silicone horse in the 12 positions of the zoetrope... but... making the silicone horse with the armature was A LOT more challenging than anticipated.
The silicone was too dense before it cured to get into all of the fine details of the mold—especially the legs of the horse. Once cured the silicone was not dense enough and even the most flexible armatures were tearing through. I began looking for a new material to cast in.
The solution that I have found is casting the horses in a two part urethane plastic with an armature. Although the product is fairly brittle, I am able to heat the plastic after curing and bend the legs into position. The armature holds the legs together where any cracks form, and I fill the cracks with Magic Sculpt (a resin with hardens overnight). This technique makes it so that I do not have to make an additional 12 molds and casts!
I have also started testing options for the paint pallet:
Monday, March 3, 2014
Lights and Encaustics
I've been working on lighting for the carousel. The challenge is the number of lights and the fact that they need to be spinning with the zoetrope (so the power source needs to be isolated).
Right now I am giving fiber optic lights a try. The pictures below show me modifying a fiber optic strands by dipping them in tinted damar crystals to give them a tungsten quality.
There are still a lot more strands to go, but the overall effect is on track.
Right now I am giving fiber optic lights a try. The pictures below show me modifying a fiber optic strands by dipping them in tinted damar crystals to give them a tungsten quality.
There are still a lot more strands to go, but the overall effect is on track.
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