The Platinum Ticket by David Beynon

The Platinum Ticket by David Beynon
Shortlisted for The Terry Pratchett Anywhere But Here, Anywhen But Now First Novel Prize

Friday 2 October 2009

Introducing Trixie

Last time I spoke about Tim Murton's Twilight Zoo and the workshop my daughter and I attended to learn how to make fabulous spooky creatures.  Well, the workshop ended Wednesday night and we have a mostly finished kitty named Trixie.


That's my daughter applying a little acrylic concrete adhesive to the crepe paper that goes over the chicken wire shell.







Once the entire shell was covered with crepe paper our little cat looked like this:




Next we needed to add a layer of cheese cloth or gauze to add some strength to the piece.  Every time a layer is added you use a little more of the acrylic concrete adhesive which not only adds strength as it dries but also imparts a degree of weather-proofing.




Unfortunately we forgot the camera the first two nights of the workshop so I can't show you how we made the wire frame skeleton and the chicken wire skin but here's a picture my daughter took of Trixie's underside. It doesn't show much, but it gives an idea of the underlying structure.



And here's Trixie.  She's almost completed.  After the layer of gauze there are a few final layers of crepe paper to get a smooth texture.  Tim also showed us techniques for creating effects to simulate hair and scales. Trixie needs a little touch-up and some work on her tummy.  I also need to cut out her eyes and mouth.  I'll also mount some sort of light inside her so she glows.




Here are a few examples of what other folks at the workshop came up with:



This witch's head, I'm told, is to be hung in the Fergus/Elora Tourism Office in Elora.



This Starfish was a joy to watch being made.  The woman who assembled this thing took forever on the wire frame and chicken wire but her results are inspired.

And this next one was built by a mother/daughter team at the table behind us and to the right.  Ladies and Gentlemen - I give you...



THE DOOM TURTLE!

Tuesday 29 September 2009

Twilight Zoo

It has been a busy week here in the Beynon household.  All of us have been getting over some funky flu-like symptoms, but we're all on the mend now.

My daughter and I have been attending a Creature Making workshop here:

Tim' Murton's Twilight Zoo


Tim makes these magnificent ghouls, witches and monsters out of wire, crepe paper, cheesecloth and glue.  Every year he adds to his menagerie.  Last year he floated a 4 sectioned Nessie in the Grand River where motorists crossing the bridge into Elora were rewarded with a Hallowe'en  treat.  In October he opens the grounds around his house for a small fee so that the public can view his creations.  If you happen to be in the Elora area I strongly recommend it.  But make sure you come as darkness falls.

My daughter and I are currently building a cat and, since she's a Hallowe'en cat, we've decided her name is Trixie.  Last night we built her wireframe skeleton.  Tonight we added chicken wire and began gluing crepe paper.  I wish we had remembered the camera - I would have posted some pictures.  Tomorrow night we finish with the crepe paper and put on the finishing layers of cheesecloth.

She'll look spectacular and we do plan on lighting Trixie from within - kinda like this handsome fella here: