Color Motion

Roly poly witch head, witch head, witch head, eat it up - yum!

The right side of the witch’s face has been covered with muscles and the first layer of skin…  The right side is still the underlying structure of the skull.  I decided to build up the head in structural layers to give a more “realistic” appearance - in quotes because, obviously, it’s not a realistic creature at all!

I decided to add some tumors on the left side of the head, but this turned out to be a problem down the road…  If I wanted to add that sort of detail I should have waited until the underlying skull was finished and SYMMETRICAL.  After I took these photos, I attempted to add layers of flesh on the left side to match the right side.  Getting the two halves to look similar is presenting a lot of challenges.

The layers of flesh drape pretty nicely.  I want the cheeks to emphasize age with the sagging cheeks that fall down under the cheekbones.  The low drooping is hiked up by the muscles of the nose to raise the hackles, and so a big challenge I have is realistically communicating the contrast between those flexed hackle-muscles and the sagging, relaxed skin of the cheeks.

I really like this profile.  Getting the other side to match is very difficult!

once this underlayer is finished I plan to etch a great deal of deep lines into the surface to indicate the flowing sinews of the muscle.  From there I’ll add pockets of fatty skin and smooth over spots to indicate the skin covering the muscle tissue…  And on top of that will go the wrinkles, warts. etc.

This is something I love about drawing and it pleases me to see how well it extends to sculpture.  Beginning with an underlying structure and gradually adding layers of detail is highly rewarding.  Best of all, sculpture doesn’t suffer from the frustrating challenges of 3D computer modeling…  I don’t need to juggle the artistic decisions with how I’ve laid out a mesh, and how that presents technical obstacles.  If I want to add a nostril I just add a dab of clay and sculpt it with my fingers, then smooth the transition into the face.

More to come later!

A Rough Timeline for the Witch:

May 2009

1. Perform test of pneumatics with the goal of using a timer and the valves to fire the cylinder at different intervals. If possible, find a second cylinder to add to the circuit.
2. Find and purchase a motor for the cauldron-stirring motion
3. Decide on a style for the cauldron so it can be sourced. An extra-large plastic style will look pretty goofy, but a cast iron style would be heavy and expensive. The best method will probably be a standard sized plastic, sanded down and spray-painted a matte black so it’s not so “Made in China” shiny.
4. Complete a drawing of the witch so we can be sure we’re on the same page (style, not dimension)
5. Narrow down costuming options
6. Narrow down props

June 2009

1. Finish a plan to construct the witch’s head. It must contain the mask, allow for movement in the jaw, and have a back for structure (or a hat!) What materials will we use?
2. Try casting our faces (Alginate) to start work on a mask
3. Construct the cauldron-stirring mechanism and base
4. Choose final costume for witch, begin sourcing
5. Choose final props for witch, begin sourcing
6. Create a plan to construct the witch’s body to work with the stirring base
7. Finish design of pneumatic mechanisms and source any other needed parts
8. Begin casting/sculpting/painting witch’s face

July 2009

1. Continue casting/sculpting/painting witch’s face
2. Begin constructing props and prepping any for paint (cauldron, pile of shoes, potion bottles, squirming lizard, scattered bones?)
3. Construct working pneumatic with dummy (styrofoam) head for testing
4. Create a final design plan for the entire witch mechanism and begin sourcing materials
5. Create a plan for lighting and sound
6. Start work on costume

August 2009

1. Finish casting/sculpting/painting witch’s face
2. Begin painting props
3. Build fog machine for cauldron
4. Purchase any lights/speaker equipment needed
5. Construct the full witch (with dummy head if necessary)
6. Finish main work on costume

September

1. Finish construction of witch
2. Finish detail work on costume

October

1. Complete display, do trial run.
2. October 20th - Showtime!