Gelfling on Tour

It's my last day of Easter and I haven't managed to squeeze in a trip to Malham cove. Pretty disappointed in myself for not managing it, but I could still make it next week? Nope, probably not. Being realistic, it's too far from Ripon to do without any transport. A huge shame because it would have been a perfect place to shoot some Dark Crystal photographs...

Anyway, my family are going to Whitby today so I'm tagging along with a Gelfling to take some photos and buy some crystals. Not Malham Cove, but close enough I guess.

I took a Gelfling to Whitby today but her tiny legs got tired so she had to ride in my backpack.

I also bought some crystals!

Made one into a necklace...

My project has thus far been about Jim Henson's LIFE, but I can't forget that he's also gone. His departure from this world has left a huge hole for his loved ones, but also for his fans and viewers. This too is an emotional strand that I could try to communicate through my work, commenting on his legacy in retrospect.

I found this exert from a letter he wrote to his children whilst he was dying (be still, my Muppet heart):

'First of all, don’t feel bad that I’m gone. While I will miss spending time with each of you, I’m sure it will be an interesting time for me and I look forward to seeing all of you when you come over. To each of you I send my love. If on this side of life I’m able to watch over and help you out, know that I will. If I can’t, I’m sure I can at least be waiting for you when you come over. This all may sound silly to you guys, but what the hell, I’m gone — and who can argue with me?

Life is meant to be fun, and joyous, and fulfilling. May each of yours be that — having each of you as a child of mine has certainly been one of the good things in my life. Know that I’ve always loved each of you with an eternal, bottomless love. A love that has nothing to do with each other, for I feel my love for each of you is total and all-encompassing. Please watch out for each other and love and forgive everybody. It’s a good life, enjoy it.'

He was just the sweetest man ever. I wish wish wish wish I could have met him, or worked with such a genius.

LABYRINTH EXPERIENCE

I'M GOING TO A 'LABYRINTH EXPERIENCE & MASQUERADE BALL' AT KIRKSTALL ABBEY BUT IT'S NOT UNTIL MAY... would have been perfect for this project but hey my love for Labyrinth will never end so doesn't matter that the module will be over then.

POSTERS, STAMPS AND POSTCARDS

BACK TO THE BRIEF.

It asked me to produce:

4 x Stamps (50mmx35mm)

3 x Postcards (105x148mm)

1 x Poster (594x420mm)

Reflecting on what I've done so far and what I still need to do...

I've designed characters and created a world.

I've made creatures. I've used Jim's processes and worked in my own 'creature shop'.

I've made a stop-motion animation and submitted my work to a Jim Henson competition.

I NEED TO

ROUGH OUT how each format will suit subjects.

Take stills from this film to print in the requested formats.

Work with some Henson quotes - USE TYPE. Make some Jim handlettering.

Get a print slot! (done)

PRINT.

'It's an adventure story. But it's definitely not in our world.'

'Frankly, I'm a lot more comfortable if I'm wearing a puppet'

I've returned to my sketchbook to draw a little more, making funky patterns inspired by The Dark Crystal but I'm now thinking that these are a reflection of FROUD's work on the film, rather than HENSON. I need my series to celebrate JIM HENSON's legacy.

'GET WEIRD & ASTONISH'

I keep thinking about this aim from the briefing and I'm wondering whether I can achieve that. I'm doing weird stuff, unusual stuff, but it is weird enough? Am I impressing? Am I going crazy enough? Am I too comfortable still?

That one week rush to make a film was way out of my comfort zone and it squished my brain into tiny pieces. That wasn't taking it easy, or doing something expected.

BUT I can always do more and I don't want to stop here.

BEING ELMO

Re-watching this documentary about the man who puppeteers Elmo.

The journey of a boy who loved Sesame Street and made his own 'muppets' at home, and who created the lovable Elmo character.

I just find it so lovely to watch how people from so many generations have been inspired (for lack of a better word... sounds so tacky and lame buuuut true) by Jim Henson's work.

FORMATS

Ch Ch Ch Checkin' it ouuuutttttt

Browsing the old Pinterest for some inspo for stamps! What are the CONVENTIONS? How can I PUSH THE BOUNDARIES?

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/moomin/images/4/4d/Hemulen.jpeg/revision/latest?cb=20120205023421    (The Hemulen - collector of stamps from The Moomins)

I've never really looked at stamps before. They must  have something going for them because people collect them. Hemulens do! What makes em so special?

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/06/84/4f/06844f30ea747136af416c8ed100350b.jpg

Here's a tribute to Roald Dahl in stamp form! So charming, his memorable characters using Quentin Blake's energetic and scratchy illustrations (how the majority of his readers will remember and visualise the stories).

Conventions - scalloped edging, 1st certification, Queen's silhouette, portrait format. 

The fact that it's about Dahl is noted in the masthead (his name) and the content of the stamps (his most famous books and characters).

  

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/43/a9/49/43a949d90e3f2273cf8c7142ff706bd6.jpg

Nostalgic children's TV show characters. ATYPICALLY sticking out from the edges of the square - making the characters the focal point. Really effective in drawing attention. Simple typeface title with the name of the character and the name of the TV show. I want one.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/f5/2c/60/f52c605512a050e15735af6e2399408e.gif

Ohhh, those colours!!! I'm not sure how easy it will be to take photographs of my models with a limited colour palette - I'd have to use a studio to control the background and colours... I really adore this retro look and it's another example of LIMITED COLOUR PALETTES RULING THE WORLD, but is that really appropriate for Henson? What colours were his world made of?

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c9/9c/33/c99c33c234b51e97b3115532f5109820.jpg

SOMEONE'S DONE IT FOR ME! A Dark Crystal fantasy colourscape, I need to consider colours in my photographs and character creations.

Tough Pigs

I FOUND THIS WEBSITE WHERE THEY DO UNBOXING OF JIM HENSON RELICS
WOO!

http://www.toughpigs.com/unboxing-notebooks/

That man kept so many notebooks. I need to keep notebooks like he did - just little reporter's ones in my pocket to note down EVERYTHING.

So sad to see the majority of Labyrinth/Dark Crystal props have begun to decompose. They're made of foam latex so they just fall apart after a few years. Really sad!

Hoggle's terrifying now.

Fan Film Submission

With only 9 days to produce a complete story in the form of a short film, I've really neglected my blog.

I've wanted so much to come on here and have a discussion about things, to try and sort out my direction and negotiate with myself... but I've had so little time.

Of the 9 days I had, I was working for 5 of them. Of the 4 days remaining, one was Easter, another was my mum's birthday and the rest rained for most or part of the day.

So I've been focusing on actually trying to make something, to put some kind of junk together for the competition submission.

I guess the lack of output on here is why my brain is very loud and uncensored right now lolz.

For legal reasons, I don't think I'm allowed to post the finished film up on here yet.

I wanted to just chat a little about the process of stop motion and how I feel now it's over... ughghheigh.

I'm not sure if I've done the right thing. I've spent so long on this film and it's not even any good and it's not even a solution to the brief. Have I wasted time?