Dragon Trophy Update

I spent the last 2 days between the "Bent Cave" and the floor with couch cushions (I did something to my back...not happy with it) making bits and pieces for the dragon trophy.
I paper mache'd 4 balloons into egg shapes. and used the deer cutout (I mentioned in the previous post) to get the basic shape of the head the basic body framework of the dragon head itself.
Here's a shot of the eggs drying:

The eggs are going to be used to build up the mouth and crown area of the dragon.
This was my first time using chicken wire as a form for paper mache, Usually I just build it up layer after layer to get the shape I need, but with a project of this scale, chicken wire seemed the only option. Plus, it was a new skill to work with.
Here's a shot of the first wrappings of the chicken wire.

Yeah, it still kinda looks like a deer. Maybe if I add some paper mache, then it'll start looking dragon-ish....

hmmmm...not yet.....maybe if I add the horns on it, it'll stop looking like a deer....yeah, that's it!

Well, that was it! It no longer looks like a deer. We're talking...uhm...water buffalo? Bison?
I have a lot of work to do...

Egg Bank

I started making eggs so that I'd have some base forms to build the dragon head up from the basic 'deer' shape that I began with. However, since I had to wait for one thing to dry before I could go to the next step, I started sketching out another idea: A nested egg for a coin bank.

I've always loved the idea of a piggy bank, one that you can't get into, rather you have to break it to get what's inside.
I've been wanting a projector for a long time as we only have a 17" tv in the living room. Now, since we only have about 20 hours/week to actually watch TV, we can't justify spending $600 for one for such a small amount of time.
A projector however, will suit our needs of having a big screen for the times we want to watch Epic movies and my love of playing my RPG's on a big screen, as well as  using it for sketching out sets and backdrop designs.
So, this little project is something of the child of the Dragon Trophy.
I started off with a paper mache'd balloon for the egg shape. As you can see from the sketch above, I needed a nest for it. I've always responded well to visible reminders, so a bank of this scale should only meet with success.
I built the nest out of some crumpled up newspaper, shaped with masking tape and formed into a ring. I made a base from a leftover prototype of foamcore for a set I made a few weeks ago. I used masking tape to rough the whole thing together, then paper mache'd the whole thing into one unit.

Then I added 'sticks' made from rolled paper mache clay. Let's just say that individually, they had more of a likeness to 'cat poop'' than 'sticks'.

Right now, the pieces are drying. The next step is to wash the nest with a black acrylic paint wash, then highlight with various browns, and add some real sticks and pieces of twine to fill up the space. The egg itself will just require a simple sanding and a paint job.
More to come.

New Project: Dragon Trophy Head

Ever since I was a little kid, I always loved monsters. I'd always end up at the library looking at books in the mythology section (Dewey Dcecimal system 292.XX...how's that for memory?). I'd sit there for hours going through all the pages looking at the images and different renderings of  mythological beasts, battles with the gods and all the great stories.
I was also an avid player of Dungeons and Dragons (Dewey Decimal system 793.73, actually had to look that one up but remembered it when I saw it) - big surprise there, I'm sure- and loved the same illustrations. I loved to imagine how the creatures could exist alongside one another and how they would look in real life.
I would have to say that a good part of who I am today is made up from that kid in the library. I've always doodled creatures in the margins of my homework and Halloween has always been my favorite part of the year. Not just because of the costumes, but to see these creations come to life.
And so, I've decided that since I have a bit of free time coming up over the next while, I'm going to start in on an old project I've always wanted: A Mythological Trophy Room!
And of course, the first piece will be something of a centerpiece, a dragon head.
From experience, I know that I like to start off bold and grand with my designs, and that's also why I end up failing almost immediately. That's why I'm starting off reasonable and attainable for my first piece.
A few months ago I downloaded a template for a poster board mounted deer head (LINK) with the intention of making that for my studio space. On closer inspection of the shape, I've seen that it can be modified to be just about anything with a neck and head.

 

image credit to Chronicle Books

I wanna turn something like the image above into something like the image below.

or this

and in a perfect world, something more like this

Where have I been?

Well, the last few weeks (closer to months) I've been busy working with ISCANS for the end of year Coronation Ball. It required a non-stop slew of posters, invitations and printed media that needed to be out on tight deadlines.
I've worked with ISCANS for about 8 years now and this was by far the most involving year to date.
Although I wasn't posting my work on here, I was posting it on another blog I was running for the charity group for them to review and contact me for edits.
Here's a sampling of the work I did:

CORONATION WEEK EVENTS POSTER

A poster outlining the events of the week.

THE IMPERSONATION SHOW(S)

This was the official kick off to Coronation week. These were two shows, same theme, held at 2 bars in one night. A great little fund raising venture. Since they were connected, we stayed with the same poster and just changed the venue information.

AND

THE IN TOWN SHOW

An event showcasing the local talents that make up ISCANS

THE OUT OF TOWN SHOW AND STATE DINNER

A fund raising dinner held for the members of the Society, followed by a show featuring the talents of out of town performers.

CORONATION NIGHT

This was the program for the evening, and the attched cover. It was my first time using InDesign in over 3 years so I was a bit rusty, but they felt it was one of the best ones yet.

Here is the cover

And here is the link to it so you can view it through ISSUU

(a great pdf document reader when editing for print).

ISSUU Link

VICTORY BRUNCH

AQ morning brunch for all the attendants to ring in the new year, also to see who actually survived the weekend.

TOUGH DRAG SHOW

The first event of the new year where all the boys dress up like girls and do horrible, horrible numbers to help raise money for the charities.

So, as you can see, I've ben a busy little beaver the last while. And now that it's all over and everything went off great, I can now get back to my regularly scheduled work and start producing the things that I want to make.

Looking forward to posting the the new work soon.

Menz Bar Staff Show

To the Letter: Designwork

Behold! Passive Aggressive Last Minute Poster Design!
Usually I'm pretty good for last minute jobs, but this one was literally a whip-up and get out kinda deal.
Though usually I'm a bit more verbose with communications over these sort of things, this instance was a less than pleasant start-off of communication.
The scariest part was that this poster went off like rocket and was considered one of the favourites of the year.
"Please see below the poster you asked for. I have included all the specifications you offered and added an image of my choosing.

 

Please contact me should any edits be needed. :| "

ISCANS Coronation 2011 Spread for Wayves Magazine