Looking a Theatre Sets

So I've started to look a set designs and there have been quite a few relating to fairytales and in particular Snow White. I immediately came across the set designs for the pantomimes by QDOS which were designed by Ian Westbrook. I'm a little nervous about posting any of their images on my blog but you can find images on the QDOS site here and on Ian Westbrook's site here.

Picture of cast members taken from Birmingham Post

Another production of Snow White by 'First Family Entertainment' featured set designs by Terry Parsons. Again images can be seen here. There's a trailer which shows apparently shows Warwick Davis was in it. I already knew he featured in a Snow White theatre production at some point, so now I know which one.

I must say there's a lot to take away from looking at the production of these pantomimes but funnily enough, aside from the beautiful costume and set designs, the thing that strikes me the most is how much they remind me of my experiences working with GAOS. Honestly, even though they're much, much bigger productions (ie: they're of a proffessional standard) the vibe I get from it is uncanny...

Back to Storyboards

So, finally got round to finishing with the storyboards. They're very roughly painted and I mostly did what I felt was right at the time and went with it. I think I really got into an interesting combination of geometric design and surrealisim not usual of my work.

Moirai

The white red and black of Snow White has so far been the element that influenced me the most, that I've found the most facinating. I was wondering about whether there were similar themes in lore and then I remembered the ancient greek myths of the three fates, the Moirai.

Design for the symbolic nature of the colour red equivalent to the second spinner Lachesis

Fairest

So, by now I'm sure you've noticed the new blog cover layout...although that would imply there was actually someone looking at my blog in the first place (joking) ;)

Art critique: boy do I have a lot to say. In many ways this is my first actual (finished) digital painting and I'm afraid it shows my inexperience in the most glaringly obvious way, esp along the bottom of the apple and that horrible stem (*shudder*). I've always struggled with digital medium so I was originally going to use ink and watercolour but it was pretty clear I wasn't going to get what I wanted with that medium. And I fiddled around a bit with that 't' in 'the' and it still doesn't quite fit. Oh well, odd sort of love hate with this cover.

Odin's Throne

It's a pretty sweet design, no? Very showy, modern and obviously from a Hollywood budget but it's also actually really simple too when you really look at it. I'm mostly talking about the chamber layout.

Image taken from the film 'Thor' (2011)

Sets

So, I believe if I was to do an animation I could limit the story to 3-4 sets:
1 the castle/a throne room
2 the forest
3 the dwarves cottage
4 (maybe) for a vision sequence when snowhite is dead/asleep

The one I'm having the most trouble visualizing is definetly the castle. I have a rough idea of what I want and what I'd need but I'm having trouble finding a way to bring it together in a satisfying and seamless way.

Puppets Clothing

More or less finished now. Much of the credit goes to Tor. She made the Snow White dress and came up with how the Queen's silver and black dress could be done.

Puppet wigs

Final wig: didn't come out quite so well unfortunately. The wool itself is a great idea but I decided to try and dye it myself instead of buying it already coloured. It was meant to be a very deep burgundy...but I simply couldn't get the dye to stick. Luckily with these wigs I can try more than once.

Close-up of face...

Wig can easily be taken off and on

Snow is in the wig making stage so you can see how it was done. Basically the plastic bag is wrapped around really tightly, covered in the glue and har (in ths case not sheep wool...real hair...) and it keeps the shape when is comes off.

Still not finished...

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