Professor Lynkhart's Cabinet of Curiosities - Final Part!

Well, the time has come, you've seen all the work that went into it, so I'm now proud to reveal the final model in all its glory!

Professor Lynkhart's Cabinet of Curiosities! (part 1)

Months and months and months ago I posted about an exciting new project I was starting at college in my final block...and then promptly never mentioned it again. This was due to many reasons, mostly me stressing over getting the damn thing finished, and my apparent inability to post things as and when they occur and not half a year down the line! I also hadn't taken any photos of the finished piece and as the model was still at college over the summer, I couldn't get at it until the next term. It's been yet more months since term restarted but I finally have it in my house after getting my dad's assistance to help me get it into the car so I was able to get photos of it at last.

So, just what is this thing, I hear you ask?

Well...

I'm officially a graduate!

 Yes, I graduated from college yesterday!

 (by the time you read this it'll be the day before yesterday, heh)

I have had the pleasure of studying with some of the most talented, creative and generally hilarious people for the past three years and I still can't quite believe it's all over. Only about half the class were able to make it to the event, as many had work or in the case of a few, had moved far away for a job. Still, it was great to see everyone again, even if only for a couple of hours.

After much faffing about with our gowns, (the hoods of which seemed intent on trying to strangle us) getting official photos taken, and trying not to fall down the stairs (I don't do heels, even if they barely registered as such by other people's standards!) we were herded into the main auditorium of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and took our seats. The Principal of the college spoke for ages, followed by a special guest, then another person had a wee speech so by the time people's names were read out half the audience was already half asleep. :P

One of my tutors was reading out the names from our department, so you can imagine my disappointment when 'Christina Sutcliffe' was announced. You've only known me three years Eddie, come on, how hard is it to remember my name?!

 

I wasn't smiling when I walked on to shake the Principal's hand and that's why, so I'm a bit irked that that will be my abiding memory of the day, and not the fact that I graduated at all, which, considering my history, really is a big deal.

The whole event was broadcast live on the college's website and is now up to watch online. (if anyone wants to see ten seconds of me walking grumpily across the stage, I'm on at  1.16.30 in Ceremony 2 -here-)

Afterwards, we got the class together for some photos...

Very serious business, graduating

 

 

 ...I gave Eddie a telling off...

 

 ...and then my parents and I met up with my cousin Ailsa, and went out for a celebratory meal at Stravagin - very fancy food but really nice. I had crispy ox tongue with fried gnocchi and peas to start (not too keen on the tongue, but the gnocchi was amazing) followed by a venison and thyme burger, (really good) with a frankly delicious chocolate, salted caramel and peanut tart to finish. We all must have looked hilariously out of place when the waitress arrived at one point with some lemon and coriander sorbets to 'cleanse the palate' and we just kinda stared at them for a minute as we don't tend to go to places where that was a thing, haha!

When I got home I tried on my new official college hoodie and yeah, that's it pretty much. XD

I don't feel like I've properly finished college - I still don't feel ready for the real world - help!

The end (of the course) is nigh!

Apologies once again for being so incredibly lax in posting recently, college has been manic!

As it happens, I can't use that as an excuse any more as I am now officially finished my course! It has been an incredible three years and I honestly don't want to leave, I'm going to miss it so much. :(


 A couple of months ago, some students from the filmmaking department of our college asked I and some of my friends if we'd be up for taking part in a short film about the modelmaking course and what we do on it. There were only a few of us that were 'brave' enough to take part so I managed a little section halfway through with Ferdinand the Unicorn! XD I got super nervous (which is why I'm blethering on so much) as although I can happily talk to people about whatever, as soon as there's a camera in my face I just go all over the place.

It's my end of year show next week, and immediately after that, myself and a handful of my classmates will be travelling down to London for the 'New Blades' modelmaking recruitment fair on Wednesday. I wasn't expecting to be picked at all (only about six of us are going) so I'm really looking forward to it. After that (or perhaps a week later as we're still not finished the Corris model, lol) I'll have completely finished with it all which really makes me sad as I love it so much and I really don't want to leave. :(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJqVHCbT2-U

I'll post about my final project properly next week with a run-down on how I made everything and how our end of year show/Blades went once everything's over and done with and I'll also have some rather exciting news about my modelmaking in general so watch this space!

Shift 17

Unbeknownst to most of you because I've been a really terrible blogger this last year, I've been working behind the scenes on a film.

Don't get too excited, it's hardly oscar material as it's only a student production but it's been an interesting experience nonetheless. We managed to score a nice little budget thanks to Kickstarter (most of which went towards making the set) and you can see a little clip here with Liam, Julia and my Unicorn from last year! (Alas, I wasn't in the day they filmed it or I'd have been there too!)

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/264586587/shift-17

....see below for millions of photos...

End of Year Show!

It was my end of year show last night and the turnout was incredible. The room was absolutely roasting as there were so many people there but it was really good. (I took the first before the room was open  :P)

 

 




There isn't much to say really other than to point out just how talented the people on this course are. :D

 I didn't take many photos (shocking, I know!) so I can't show you all of the second year's incredible models, all of which were incredibly professional looking, but here, have some from my year. :P


My Unicorn, (now officially named Ferdinand for no obvious reason that I can tell. XD) tree, door from last year and graded unit model hidden at the back because it's terrible.




Jack's graded unit model, prop and doorway...



Liam's graded unit model, door and prop...



Stuart's graded unit, prop, door etc.







Jonathan and John's work.



Robbie and David's work.




David's absolutely FANTASTIC 'Grotesque' carved entirely out of blue foam!



Julia, Paula and Robbie's work.





I only managed to photograph two of the second year's work and I can't remember who they were by but still, here they are!



Davy Jones from Pirates of the Caribbean (known jokingly as 'Farmer Jones' when his hat was still an uncustomised straw hat from the charity shop XD)



The ship from District 9.

Unicorn Finished! (new photos)

I meant to get this up AGES ago but never had a chance to photograph the finished model until now. (and even then these aren't my photos - Simon took them, lol)

He still doesn't have a name yet although I'm leaning towards Ferdinand for no apparent reason.

I finally managed to get the plaque he's mounted on finished after the varnish reacted badly and ended up really patchy in places. I rather like it though, it makes it look a bit more antique which was kind of the intention.

Simon took these for my portfolio and his records and kindly allowed me to use them.

I'm SO pleased with him and even though I can see all the flaws and bits I'd like to change, I really couldn't be happier with him right now. :D

SAWA Awards - 'Behind the Scenes'

 Seeing as the awards are out and about now I see no problem with showing off how we made them.

I must stress that neither Liam nor I were responsible for sculpting the master, that was all our tutor Eddie's work - we just cast more and finished them! XD



Liam made the silicone moulds before I got involved in the job but I taped them up while he mixed each batch of resin so we had a nice little production line going. Here's two in the moulds just after pouring. The resin went off in about an hour or two so we could get several batches done in quick succession if we really pushed ourselves.



Fresh out of the moulds. Some came out better than others and we had a small pile of rejects left at the end.



All this excess resin flashing had to be carved off and sanded before we could get them painted up. It wasn't the most glamorous job but it had to be done!



The original had a really nice matte textured finish but sanding it down obviously removed this so a thorough blast with the airbrush gave it a nice texture again. I'm rubbish with the airbrush so Liam sorted out all the painting. To be honest, he really did most of the work on this project but casting and sanding was such a time consuming job that I came in handy to share the workload!



Painted!



They were really nice to hold and you couldn't help but start practising your Oscar acceptance speech whenever you picked one up. :P

Am I 'fur' real?

Yes I am and I offer no apology for the terrible puns! XD

This week has seen the project stagnate somewhat and yet, at the same time, come on leaps and bounds. As of today, all Mr Unicorn needs is a mane and a muzzle and he'll be ready to mount up on a plaque! (which I still need to make, argh)

Annoyingly I neglected to take any photos of the horn prior to hot-gluing it in so apologies! I sculpted it from Super-Sculpey around a tinfoil core to give it both stability and to make it lighter than if I'd made it solid. I painted it with Games Workshop acrylics and though the photos make it look incredibly dark, it does actually have many different colours in it with some nice highlights too.



Narwhal tusks were the original inspiration for the Unicorns of the tapestries and paintings and while I liked the history behind them, I wanted my Unicorn to have a slightly different look so I based the horn of mine on that of antelope and the like. I took some photos when I was volunteering the other week which came in very handy for sculpting reference.

I made up the patterns for the fur from some paper towels taped together with masking tape as it was considerably easier to do and wasted less material than doing the same with fabric.

 

Although the neck pieces fitted perfectly, the head was off in a few places so I used this as another test piece and added in some extra bits with tape so I could use it as an improved template. I was pretty much making it up as I went along with no real idea of what I was doing. XD

 I painted the muzzle and around the eyes with flesh toned paint to simulate the skin and then made up some eyelids from painted glove leather. At first I made both lids pink but later repainted the top one a creamy white colour as it suited the fur more and looked more natural.

Then it was just a matter of  gluing on the fur...

 

...

Or so I thought!

I'd managed to glue the left side on squint so I had to carefully peel it all off without taking half the plaster and foam with it and start again! Luckily I had plenty of spare fabric so I was able to catch up pretty quickly.

 

I did my best to avoid really obvious seam lines but as I'll be giving him a beard, mane and probably a bit of an extended beard/chest hair combo I should be able to disguise any really ugly bits!
If I can get some flocking powder tomorrow at Hobbycraft I'll be able to blend the muzzle into the fur much more naturally - if not I'll have to attempt to make my own flock  - fun.

One of the things I'd always really wanted to make for this was a really fancy collar - as seen in the 'Unicorn in Captivity' tapestry.



I didn't think I'd have enough time to even think about it but when I realised how far ahead I was, I decided to go for it. With some fantastically coloured blue corduroy fabric from the fabric boxes in the room downstairs (thanks Jack!) and the thread, bias binding and beads from my own collection, I spent the entire day yesterday putting it together. It isn't exactly accurate to the tapestry as I couldn't find a buckle quite as fancy and it's difficult to make out all the details so this was more of a homage to the thing than an exact replica. I measured where the buckleholes should be with nothing more than a bit of thread so I was amazed (and seriously relieved) when I found to my delight this morning that it fitted perfectly despite having not had the chance to test fit it before I put in the eyelets! It will hopefully provide a good way to disguise any joins between the neck and whatever I end up using as the base which was part of the reason I decided to make it in the first place.



The buckle was a lucky find at Mandors the fabric shop and at only £1.50 was an absolute bargain! I dread to think how many hours I sat sewing it yesterday but I got through Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, an episode of Stargate: SG1, Star Trek: Enterprise, Law and Order: SVU, NCIS and the news whilst working on it so that's at LEAST eight hours I reckon! XD
Stupidly I didn't sort out how many beads I'd need for it all before I started so I ran a little short on some - the pearls were a nightmare as some of them looked identical to others...but cracked and broke in two whenever I tried to thread them onto a needle. Arrrghhhh!
(The collar has had some extra beads sewn on since that photo - see below.)

So yeah, that's where I stand with him at the moment! I'm just hoping that Hobbycraft actually has some of the flock stuff tomorrow or...well, I'll be flocked. D:



EG out! :D