Back again, much sooner than usual :)
Today, before I get into my experimental work, I want to show a recent large project I did for KPA, Kingscliff Performing Arts (check out their website at www.kingscliffperformingarts.com.au), for their end of year performance last December, 2012.
KPA Principal, Kristy Godfrey, asked me if I could create a backdrop for the junior performance, with the theme being Candy Land. The previous year, I had created Cinderalla's coach, which consisted of light weight 'pumpkin' over a more solid, wooden 'magic coach'. Though this worked well, this year, the challenge was to create something lightweight and easily transportable.
First things first- I needed to know what she wanted. After sitting down with Kristy and hearing her ideas, I got to drawing up some rough sketches. Here are some of the early ones.
After showing these to Kristy, she explained how she had imagined fairy floss trees, so, I went back to the drawing board. The key here is to listen, constantly keep in communication and adapt to what the person wants. I find this stage the hardest yet most exciting part of the project, other than completion of course :)
This is what I next came up with...
This simplified sketch was definitely on the right track. Kristy loved the idea of the fairy floss trees and now that I knew that, it helped me come up with the final design to work from.
I decided to simplify the design. Afterall, it had to be seen clearly from a distance, and, to be honest, painting giant swirl lollipops did seem a tad too challenging!
With the design set, the next challenge was to enlarge an A3 design onto my backing. Did I have any idea of what I was doing? Honestly, no. But I learn by doing.
The material I chose is corflute, pictured above from Bunnings. Last year, I had used it as the removable pumpkin for the Cinderella coach, so I knew it was easy to paint on. However, I wasn't sure how structurally strong it would be as a stage prop. However, that was a risk I had to take considering the budget.
I decided the best option would be to place the sheets on my garage floor (the largest space I have) and start enlarging my base design onto it. I went approximately 1.8 metres high and several metres wide. This was a big project! Maneuvering around it was also very challenging, but I had to work with what I had, and I was determined to make it work.
The above picture illustrates the space challenge I faced. Another issue was the fact that as corflute had to be placed side by side before joining it, I needed to be careful with lining up my sheets whilst painting. To further add to the struggle was mixing the right shade, and amount, of paint.
After painting the base coat and being happy with the colour, I cut around the design. That was not as easy as it sounds. The corflute is ribbed and was difficult to maneuver a blade around some shapes, causing some mis-alignments. I had to get rid of the perfectionist here- who really would see that from a seat?! I experimented on the fairy floss trees too. I initially swirled the paint around during the first application. I liked the effect, but it wasn't strong enough to be seen at a distance, so I added more swirls in a lighter shade.
This process wasn't a lengthy one to actually paint- the surface is smooth and the paint glides on- just the drying time takes a while. But now that I had committed to painting on the floor, I realised that in itself had limits, as well as being a tiny bit taxing on the body, especially bending over to reach sections. Surprisingly, the corflute is pretty strong and could take my weight to reach difficult sections. However, the paint does need sealing and can rip or peel, as I discovered when cutting around shapes. In hindsight, next time I would cut the shape before painting.
I will leave you there for now. Part 2 coming soon!
Again, thanks for reading :)
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