Next Chapter in Creativity

To think, I used to dread drawing hair. Now there is volume and texture. Could it turn into part time vocation? Perhaps towards retirement.

After two whole years on a single production, my mind is opening up with new ideas again. I am hoping they will keep on growing.

In case you haven't noticed it, I have been writing quite frequently. It hasn't been that busy at work. So. I am practicing for the CBC creative nonfiction contest. I am writing anything and everything I could to keep the words flowing. I even submitted an animated short story idea.

During the coming holiday week, when I will be off, I hope to make a paper automaton of a carousel. I've worked it out roughly. I just need to execute it.

Paper Model: Seated Figure

This is a scratch model of a seated figure in a dollhouse chair. The purpose of which will be for scale as I work out the design for the next version of paper cut man and woman. This was measured specifically for the little chair. The body was cut out as one piece and the head is a standard cylinder.

Dog Walk Cycle

Dog Walk Cycle via Stop Motion Animation

Here is something I was thinking of doing with the scraps left over from making paper models. It turned out OK. The full walk cycle for dog or any quadrupeds require 8 frames, but cutting by eye resulted in too many frustrating mistakes. I captured the images upside down with my laptop webcam. This is good considering the paper and size of the model made it too difficult to stand upright. Stay tuned for more original paper creations.

Paper Model: Titanic

I did it! 

Today, I finally put together the RMS Titantic paper model. How was it? It is missing a few details, like 18 lifeboats instead of 20. I built this to see whether it was possible to work on something with such fine details. As it turns out, I was less than successful at it. Anyway, I am happy with the results, even if it did rip some during cutting. It would have been done a lot sooner, if the daytime lighting had not been so dim of late. If anyone is looking to challenge themselves, click on the Currell logo in this post and hop on over to the website to download the free model.

Onward to something bigger.

Project List: December 2, 2011

I was at a gathering with the other novelists from NaNoWriMo last night celebrating the end of November. It was incredibly inspiring, to hear about all the different experiences so far. It gave me an idea to help my story along, because the writing isn't over until the next cycle begins. If I had known that all I needed was to be with other people to get swept up in creativity, I would have went out more often. Oh well. I have managed to come up with something that kept up most of the night. Hm, I should write that.

After the last party and Christmas stuff is done, I will carry on with more projects.

A photo of the Tie Fighter and Cylon Raider next?

In no particular order...

• Paper Model: U.S.S. Voyager. I have new ink now, I should be able to print out that model. With this netbook, I cannot check the ink volume anymore.
• Paper Model: Titanic. I mention that I would that before. Suffice to say there was too much going on for that to happen.
• Paper Model: Imperial Stormtrooper. I have the head cut out. I am wondering how much to scale that up by to pose next to the Cylon helmet.
• Writing: The Living Bride (redux).
• Writing: FanFiction - The misadventures of Peter Bishop in Sam Weiss' Bedrock.
• Animation: I have to make my annual seasons greeting, so it is the animated GIF. They are different every year.

Paper River Boat: New Orleans

It's a good thing I know my limitations. There were really good models out there, including Disneyland's Mark Twain. That would have been destroyed before I finished cutting. It's not like this was easy to build either. Without instructions I had no idea which to stick together first. I had trouble aligning the upper deck railing. Boats are officially not my favourite models, but I still have another river boat and the Titanic in the works.

My Paper Model Life

space shuttle, coat rack, ransels, camera, geodesic calendars, perpetual calendars, bi-plane, tri-plane, light airplane, dollhouse, Porsche, Corvettes, robots, computers, fire trucks, Hall of Supreme Harmony, Hijimi Castle, stage, Ford GTO, Ducati, train, Volks Wagen Beetle, Ferrari, Triumph, Lambretta, Velorex, Tomas Flyabout, dump truck, new cars, old cars, scooters, river boat, Star Trek, Star Wars, cartoon characters, male, female, downloads, original design, 2D, 3D.

And this is just the stuff I've built.

Project List: Weekending April 9, 2011

Second attempt at this old style bus

Just because I have gone back to work, it does not mean I have given up time for my various projects. For the Titanic, I will document every stage of the assembly until I bomb. It will happen. The pieces are way too small.

1. Paper Model: Riverboat
2. Paper Model: Lego Stormtrooper (Not sure if I did it for that scale before?)
3. Paper Model: X-Wing (This will go well with my mini Colonial Vipers.)
4. Paper Model: HMS Titanic (I don't hold out much hope for its completion, if it proves too difficult.)
5. Writing: FanFiction - Drabbles of Charlie Francis' Star Trek convention adventures in "I Am Spock". Two chapters have been published already.
6. Writing: Will begin research for the next character driven piece set in Tang Dynasty China. Question is. How do I work in a ghost story?

Paper USS Enterprises NCC1701 D & E

Where would my Star Trek collection be without the USS ENTERPRISE. I did this simple model of the good ol' D again with card paper. The nacelles hold its shape better. I have managed to mimic the some of the angles seen on TV. I could have tons of fun with this one.

Compared to the Enterprise-E, I got previously.

I really like the textures on this simple model. One disadvantage. Because of the surface shadows, there are fewer good views.

Paper Planes

Today, I assembled the De Haviland Tiger Moth. (The yellow one.) When I realize there were no directions to go with the model, I went by images of the actual plane. The dashboards were so tiny, I didn't think tweezers would have helped. The best time to add it was before the fuselage was complete. Like other bi-plane and tri-plane models, the bars needed more glue to make it stay in place. Finally, I'm amazed that all it took to stick on the tail fin (with absolutely no useful surface) was a thick beading of glue. Card paper was used instead of heavy bond paper.

 

Here is the Fokker tri-plane I put together a couple of years ago. It was a second attempt.

 

You can find all these models on flickr.com. I think I'll look for another one. They are always fun builds.

Photo Realistic Paper Bus

Here is one of my favourite paper models. It looks so realistic in some places, that I can pose it to make it seem like a real double decker. You will see I prefer to assemble vehicles. It's because I cannot design them myself.

Cylon Helmet Paper Model

I have been assembling the cylon helmet paper model downloaded from http://www.bazookajo.me.uk/

This model is basically a full-sized mask, right down to the thin eye slit. I like the simplicity of the design and the instructions were really helpful. It's the first time I have ever assembled anything of this scale before, that's why I made it half as big. Fortunately for me, all the tabs were still usable at that scale. The only time I used cellophane tape was to hold the faceplate in place. The single layer of corrugated card made it hard for the tabs to stay put. With so many tabs to glue, I had my doubts if the bonds would hold. The result is rather pleasing. I didn't have to make any modifications. If I choose to make a wearable mask, I might drop some of the formers. As far as costumes go, I don't think the full version will fit my head.

Base helmet

With faceplate and visor

Paper Modeling and Star Trek

Combining two different interests. I search the internet for easy-to-build models. I've waited a long time for someone to design props from the Star Trek universe. It inspires me to create paper models of my own.

Introduction

I am known for my avid interest in watching TV, but only a few shows have consumed 100% of my attention. My bookshelf is an indication of my earlier addictions. After so many years, what I find lacking about TV today is the lack of tangible mementos. Everything is online. So I am starting a blog now to share what influences my creative process. I have a multitude of interests. I hope you will enjoy my work.