Wind in the Willows

Wind in the Willows

Mechanisms to make the masks move

12/05/15

To develop my mask further I will be looking at mechanisms to make small parts, suchas the mouth, eyes, nose and ears move. To do this I will be looking at numerous mechanisms, such as string pully, hydraulic, spring, ball and socket hinges and ventriloquism. 

Ventriloquist dummies include mechanisms such as spring loaded and string pulley. The spring loaded mechanism is usually used to open and close the mouth. If a string pulley was used in this way there would not be enough power or weight to have the mouth both open and close. The spring is used to move the too jaw, and the string pulley is used to operate the bottom jaw, and this string runs through a stick that is connected to the control cord, this cord has a ring on the end so that it is easier to operate.

A basic grabber designs uses string pulley techniques and a leaver. The leaver is pulled together and the string inside of the mechanism isq tightened, causing the claws on the end to close. Releasing the leaver then causes the claws to open again.

I am most pulled towards the string pulley technique. I would hopefully use this to make the ears move and turn. However, I was also looking at using a ball and socket hinge on the ears to make them turn. 

mechanisms

Costume Design

Costume Design

Commedia Dell'Arte and Creating a face cast

22/04/15

Today we revisited the methods of making a face cast using Mod Rock, however this time, we would then be using the Mod Rock mask and creating a plaster cast, which would later be used to make a latex mask. 

The mask design would be of one of the many characters within the Commedia Dell'Arte, and so were to follow a specific design, but would also have our own twist on it.

Commedia Dell'Arte

Commedia Dell'Arte is a theatrical performance that uses character types shown through masks. It began in Italy in the 16th century and was the beginning of improvisation in acting based on scenarios or sketches. 

Commedia Dell'Arte is shortened from 'Commedia Dell'Arte all'improvviso', which translated means "Comedy of the craft of improvisation"

Capitano: Is usually a Spaniard and is an outsider. Often makes up stories to impress others, however only usually ends up impressing himself. Gets easil absorbed in his own tales and is oblivious to those around him who don't believe him. He is a coward and has trouble with talking to and being around women.

Zanni: Is a servant and a trickster, he comes from the countryside and is known as a dispossessed immigrant worker.

Scaramuccia: Literally translated to 'Little Skirmisher', Scaramuccia is a combination of Capitano and Zanni in the sense of cowardice and boasting. He is often dressed in black Spanish dress and is the stock clown character of the Commedia Dell'Arte.

Pulcinella: Often called Punch or Punchinello in English. Is often dressed in white with a black mask and stands out because of his unusual voice. He often carries around a wooden spoon and macaroni. He uses stupidity as a defense so as to know what is going on, however is mean, vicious and crafty.

Tartaglia: Is the dainty character who's status varies from bailiff, lawyer, notary or chemist. He often represents the lower working class, however sometimes represents the middle or upper class. He is farsighted with a minor stutter.

Naso Turco: The one who is opposed to the masters of the city. Is looked upon as having a dim-witted approval and became sly, meddling, cunning and cheeky. (Also known as Zanni)

Pantelone: Is one of the most important characters in Commedia Dell'Arte. is very greedy and is at the top of the social order, he is portrayed as money. He has the highest regards for his intelligence. he is usually the father of one of the lovers, and is driven to keeping his child and their lover apart. Is prestented as either a bachelor or a widower and makes numerous passes on the women but id often rejected, dispite his age.

Arlecchino/Harlequin: Is the most well known Zanni or comic servant characters. he is a light-hearted and nimble astute servant, often trying to thwart his master. 

Columbina: Is Harlequins mistress and is wife of Pierrot. Was the only functioning intellect on the stage.

Pierrot: Is a sad clown who is often pining for love of Columbina, who usually breaks his heart and leaves him for Harlequin. Is seen as a fool and is often the butt of pranks but is also seen as trusting.

Making a Commedia Dell'Arte Mask:

As well as using the mod rock face mask technique, we also were to make a stronger mold that would aid us in the making of a latex mask. The mold would be made of plaster

Safety when using plaster:

• Do not inhale the plaster or ingest it.
• When mixing, wear a dust mask and mix in a well ventilated room.
• Do not attempt to cast hands or anything alike in a large volume of plaster, consequences are large.
• wear gloves when handling, mixing and using the substance.
• Wear overall's to avoid getting the plaster on clothes.
• Do not throw plaster around.
• Take note of the people around you when using.

It is important to note that the window of opportunity to use the plaster at it's optimum point is about 5 minutes, and so work must be done quickly. The use of varying temperatures will speed up the reaction, as will adding any other substances to the mix.

When mixing, the plaster will vary in consistency before it becomes usable. It's first stage is very watery and looks like milk. It's second stage is like that of single cream, it's third stage like double cream. It is at this stage that is becomes usable. After this the stages change very rapidly and is begins to thicken harden.

How it was done

Before mixing the plaster, it was important to coat the inside of the Mod Rock mask with Soft Soap, a waxy and greasy mixture that would prevent the plaster that would be applied into the mask from sticking to the plaster on the Mod Rock. One the mask was coated and dried, we then mixed the plaster.
The amount added was done by eye rather than in exact quantities. The plaster was added into cold water (A third of a bucket) until a small mound had formed on top of the water and was added while wearing a face mask to stop us from inhaling the dust and is a well ventilated space Once it had reached this point, we could then mix it. 

Mixing it to the stage that it was usable took patience and meant that we constantly had to move it so that the plaster didn't settle to the bottom of the bucket we were mixing it in. Eventually it began to move through the stages.
Once i had reached the consistency of double cream, we were then able to use it. First of all, the mixture was poured into the Mod Rock mask and swirled around to that it filled any detailed areas such as the nose and mouth, once this was done, the consistency of the plaster had thickened, and so was able to push up the sides of the mask. The idea was to get a hollow mask with a 1 inch thick wall so that it could be easily handled.

Once the plaster had been applied, we then used a thin metal disk called a kidney to scrape the top of the mask to make it smoother. Once this was done, the Mod Rock mask could then be puled away from the plaster and thrown away. The plaster mold was left to dry.

Wind in the Willows

Wind in the Willows

Evaluation of 'Sewhat' mask

21/4/15

The mask I would've worn for the sewhat was of Toad. The mask over all was supposed to be very snug, however it was slightly loose fitting, and so slid around on my head and fell off to one side. To stop this from happening, padding was needed, and was stuffed into any loose areas within the mask. 

The costume was very comfortable. The blazer was taken up so that it would fit me, as was the shirt and the vest top, this also made the costume neater to wear. I wore my own black trousers, so they were comfortable, and my own boots. 

I was overall very happy with the costume, however, without the padding I had to hold the mask up so that I could see the floor.

Wind in the Willows

Wind in the Willows

Final steps of making the mask before Sewhat

23/03/15

After gluing all of the fur (hemp) onto the body of the piece, I spray painted it using the watered down acrylic that I had planned to do. While this was drying I then began making the whiskers by cutting lengths of wire, covering them in watered down PVA and blue glitter, so as to add more colour to it. The whiskers were inserted using a nail and pliers, so that I could puncture the nose area, which I then put the whiskers in to.

I also painted the ears and nose pink and then covered the areas in pink glitter

Black netting was placed and glued, using a hot glue gun, into the eye holes.

To finish it off, i need to put something at the back of the mask so that the neck isn't exposed when my partner is wearing it. I also need to stabilize it somehow.

As a final touch for the Sewhat fashion show, I need to find a jacket of the same colour as the trousers.

The outfit consists of a black turtle neck, beige trousers, black boots and a jacket that has yet to be purchased.

Wind in the Willows

Wind in the Willows

Mask progress

11/03/15

The original idea I had for my mask had to be scrapped as there was no way that it was going to work, and so, rather than just creating a face mask, I decided to begin to work on a full head mask, that may or may not be later extended into a mask that also attaches to the shoulders.

Originally, with the head piece that was to form the structure of the head area, I was going to use a strap that was adjustable by using string. With contemplation, I realised that this idea wasn't very strong, and so made the strength of the structure fairly weak.

After this, I added more straps around the head for security and began working on the nose. The nose was created using two pieces of scored card that were curved around each other and then taped together. However the mask, at this point, was very heavy and not very balanced in it's weight.

After realising this, I took the mask apart, and this time, only used the nose and a center head strap.

I then began building it up again, measuring it every once in a while using my class mates around me. Once I had the positioning of the head, I then added more straps for security and also covered each strap in gaffa tape for strength, I also wrapped the nose in gum strip. I places one strip of cardboard over the head piece so I could then build on the shape of the mask.

Upon testing the fit of the mask, it became apparent that there wasn't much room, and that my nose was squashed against one of the head straps, so I removed the center strap and cut out a small area for the nose to go.

I then began to build around it so I could get a better shape.

Once I was done adding pieces for shape, I covered it in newspaper, which had been soaked in a mixture of water and PVA glue.

I realised that the nose was too long to be similar to a weasels, and so cut off a large proportion of the nose. Once I had done this I then covered it in another layer of paper and added ears. The nose was added last, and was made out of small balled up pieces of the paper and covered.

After strengthening the original structure, I then moved on to adding another later of paper mache, which I will later paint. Once dry, I will paint the mask a mixture of white and sienna brown, which on top of that I will then add frayed twine over. When I come to paint the twine, I will use watered down acrylic paint and will spray it onto the twine to avoid stiffness. Eventually, I will then add in eyes using black mesh, however, no further modifications can be made until my partner is next here for me to do any adjustments and modifications. 

Wind in the Willows

Wind in the Willows

Research: Costume and Fashion Illustration

16/03/15

Fashion Illustration has been around for nearly 500 years. As well as serving as a visual representation of a garment, they are also a piece of art. In the 1930's however, particularly with Vogue Magazine, these illustrations were replaced with photographic images, which was a major turning point in the fashion industry. 

Costume Illustration also serves the same point, however, determines the character as a whole, rather than just the articles of clothing the character wears.

Wind in the Willows

Wind in the Willows

Automatic sketches

10/03/15

I feel that, while I am able to get the fundamentals of the features of my character and the animal in general, I am unable to bring the characters personality into the drawing. My main goal was to make the sketches of the character look malicious, however most of them start to look like other animals.

For research I need to look at costume and fashion silhouettes.

Wind in the Willows

Wind in the Willows

Costume and the 'So What? Fashion Show'

09/03/15

As part of the course, Every year the art and design department partakes in something called the 'Sewhat?' Fashion show, which is solely Bassetlaw based, and can have any theme. Since we are already doing Alice in Wonderland for another project, we will be focusing the theme on an early 1900's children book: Wind in the Willows. This project will also continue after the fashion show so that we may develop and experiment more.

The Fashion show requires a complete costume, including either a face mask or a full head piece of either Mr Toad, Ratty, Badger, Mole or Weasel.

First of all, to make it equal, the number of people within the class was divided by the number of main characters (Mr Toad, Ratty, Badger and Mole) and any people left without a character were then given a weasel. the names of the characters were drawn out of a hat, and people were paired using the same method, The character I was to be recreating was to be a weasel, and my parter would be creating Mr Toad.

The masks and costumes we were putting together, however, were not for ourselves to wear, but for the people we were partnered with.

Kenneth Grahame's Weasel:

In the story, the Wind in the Willows, the Weasels are portrayed as the main villains, who are malicious, feral, criminal and cause trouble for others. This gang of cut - throats live in the Wild Woods and plan to take over Toad Hall, home to Mr. Toad.

In many adaptations and drawings, the weasels are rather well dressed, usually wearing a jacket, trousers, a waistcoat, gloves, and carries either a cane or a shotgun and wears a hat, depending on the adaptation

The animal in general:

Weasels are small fluffy animals with sleek fur that are rather slinky and thin. They have long necks and faces, the colour varies, however for my adaptation I wish to use the combination of gingery brown and white. Weasels also have big eyes, a big rounded nose, many whiskers, and sharp teeth. Their ears are rather big however the positioning means that they are not prominent.