Just after we incorporated the company as the Imagination Corporation we took on a theme project in Alberta. This was the project where we began to learn to truly sculpt woodgrain and other effects into concrete. We had observed the finished result we were looking for in Toontown in Disneyland shortly before and had surmised how we might accomplish it. The armature was built in our shop and transported to the worksite. We had fabricated some crude carving tools of bent metal strips. once the ship was in place we towelled on the concrete, let it set up for a while and then tried some carving. It was too wet... so we waited and then tried again. Eventually, the concrete was set the right amount. I distinctly remember the magic that happened as the woodgrain appeared as we carved. It would take us many years of practice to truly master the craft of sculpting concrete but that exciting journey had begun.
The ultimate jigsaw puzzle
Designing and building our features could be compared to putting together a complex jigsaw puzzle. But it gets a little more complicated than that. First we need to design the artwork. Then we have to figure out how to build the pieces - from scratch. Add in a third dimension just for a little more of a challenge. And then take away all the edge pieces for there are few straight lines in our work. All this is what makes our work so much fun! Peter is making great progress on the first of the giant barrels. The second one he should be able to do with his eyes closed. :)
Brick by brick, stone by stone
I've been sneaking out to the shop from time to time over the weekend, sculpting on the Time Keeper's factory building. I've gotten a good start on the stone and brickwork on the lower portion of the front and one side of the building. I've also bulked out the steam plant and chimney for the very tall clock factory. There's a special magic that can only be achieved by working freehand, by eye and allowing things to be very organic and flowing. There will be no straight lines in this project when I am done. As I was working on the hundreds of stones and bricks I was imagining how we would paint them, where we will add rust, stains and aging. It's going to be fun! Stay tuned...
