Creature Shop Challenge

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Uhmm sorry I'm talking about CSC again. It's just so good. So magical. Let me be there.

I know I've mentioned this before, but I wish they'd bring this back to Syfy. Such a wonderful idea.

To be in that workshop! Have access to those materials.

To get feedback from Brian Henson! To have a chance to work at the Creature Shop.

Lil' old Jay would sell her soul for that.

The contestants aren't Hensons, they never met Jim. But they're so 'INTO' his world that they compete for the chance to be a part of the company.

... I think that shows the height of Jim's legacy.

I think he'd laugh at the idea of people fighting to work in his shop, remembering how he began in the industry with scraps of his mother's old coat. A humble beginning.

http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/muppet/images/4/42/PuppetsVsCreatures.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140513025631

This poster should explain how Jim's creatures differed from his Muppets. I'm more of a fan of his creatures, but he was known for both. Possibly more so for his Muppets/puppets.
Actually, this poster could answer the brief really well... hmmm! Explaining Jim's principles? Something that could go on the wall of the Creature Shop? A sort of tutorial?

Creature Makers of Note

As a celebration of the CREATURE SHOP and the work that was produced under the direction of Jim Henson, I want to explore the other artists whose hands helped sculpt and colour these memorable productions. It has never been just Jim.

http://media.aintitcool.com/media/legacy/images2009/BTSesbhensonbig.jpg

Brian Froud

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Genius conceptual designs and illustrations that inspired Henson's Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. He imagined the creatures, goblins and fae folk who caught Jim's attention and set the visual tone for his two feature length fantasy films.

Wendy Froud

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Sent Jim a marionette during the development stages of The Dark Crystal and later was asked to make the Gelflings for the film.

She also worked in the Creature Shop on Labyrinth production.

Toby Froud

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Played 'Toby' in Labyrinth and has now grown up to create his own creatures and direct his own films. Literally BORN into Henson's world and lives up to the legacy.

Heather Henson and Toby Froud worked together on the puppet films 'LESSONS LEARNED' and 'YAMASONG'.

Heather Henson

Jim's youngest daughter. Though all of his children have done incredible things, Heather's devotion to OLD FASHIONED, TRADITIONAL puppetry warms my heart. 'Hand Made Puppet Dreams' project supports independent artists and their visions.

Frank Oz

Frank and Jim were such lovely friends. Frank was the Bert to Jim's Ernie. Piggy and Kermit.

They had a harmonious relationship as puppeteers, friends and colleagues.

Ron Mueck

http://www.inkoherence.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/ron-mueck-ludo.jpg

Ron Mueck was a creature designer for Labyrinth and performed (with Rob Mills) as Ludo.

http://cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/media/img/photo/2013/10/the-hyperrealistic-sculptures-of-ron-mueck/m01_RTR2RLX9/main_1200.jpg

He's also the dude who makes the giant faces.

Jim Henson surrounded himself with fellow visual thinkers.

http://cbsnews1.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/2013/04/02/1b9be89c-a738-11e2-a3f0-029118418759/jane-henson-AP328397558148.jpg

In Labyrinth, he makes references to M C Esher

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/labyrinth/images/f/f1/Escherjareth.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20111008144515

... L.Frank Baum, Lewis Carroll and Maurice Sendak.

http://thehalloweeninn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/SarahsBooks.png

Intentions

The tone of Henson's Muppets is SILLY and I think the reason I've been avoiding that side of his work is because that's not my taste. I don't really get the American, adult, silly humour.

Jim's tone of voice in Labyrinth, The Storyteller and The Dark Crystal is a more serious approach to storytelling. Less laughs, more beauty and wonder.

I thought maybe my story for the short film was too sensible and not silly enough to fit Henson's world, but I found these lil' Jim quotes talking about his intentions and it made me feel a bit better!

'I know it's easier to portray a world filled with cynicism and anger, where problems are solved with violence...It's an easy out. What's a whole lot tougher is to offer alternatives, to present other ways conflicts can be resolved, and to show you can have a positive impact on your world. To do that, you have to put yourself out on a limb, take chances, and run the risk of being called a do-gooder.'

'Yes, its one of the basic truths of the universe,....Things don't disappear. They just change, and change and change again.'

That last quote reflects my story's positive message about the environment.

Gelfling Girl

Large scale Gelfling now has green hair! Used green because it's all I had. Perhaps a little TOO intense. All the other gelflings I've made have white hair with strands of colour whereas she has a block green colour. Adding some white may make it a little less surreal?

Not sure if I'm wasting time with this one and should just keep working on the finished Gelflings on the smaller scale? I'd need to re-take photos. They'd still work together as a set but I don't know how much time to spend finishing her.

I need to shift my focus onto printed media now.

SUSPENSE

Tense butterflies and moths gathering in my tummy.

Feeling nervous about the competition being judged (possibly this very second? WHO KNOWS) and about the up-coming tutorials.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/1b/6a/aa/1b6aaa2bae005e2fed84b1a7c32ecb1b.jpg

Yeah, feelin' pretty Goblin-y.

Am I a Man or a Muppet

GO BIG OR GO HOME

They say that so much on Face Off and Creature Shop Challenge.

And it's true.

I have to work on a larger scale, stretch myself LITERALLY in order to do something different and ASTONISHING.

So I'm making another puppet.

But this time it's going to be much bigger...

Avoiding material and funfur - sorry Jim, Muppets are great but only when you do them. I don't want to try and make a Muppet because it won't be a Muppet. Only you can do Muppets. Anything I attempt would be just me attempting to copy you... does that make sense? So I'm making a CREATURE instead... more of a Gelfling on a larger scale. A creature wouldn't be copying you (badly) because the creatures aren't just yours - they're Brian's and Wendy's and Frank's.

'It's a work of art
but it's not a personal work of art
....hundreds of people created this thing' - Jim, of course, Henson

Kermit proportions, Kermit controls, but Gelfling in aesthetic.