Classwork - Prop Design

[Casual-T]

Cheerio, fellow Artfolk,

Back after a lengthy SVS hiatus. Between lockdown madness, moving out of state, kids out of school, and finding myself squarely out of work, I figured now would be as good a time as any to jump back on the wagon, and draw ferociously until my stylus needs sharpening! (Any suggestions for a good stylus sharpener?)

Figured I'd continue where I left off, and started @Jake-Parker's Introduction to Prop Design class. I'd love to get some feedback on my lamp design before diving into the rest of the ensemble. The lamp is designed for a mouse living in a cozy hole in the ground (Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat...), so I wanted to make sure to use natural elements for the design as might be available to a mouse. The "wire" plugged into the stump delivers nutrients to the mushroom which provide the necessary fuel for the bioluminescence.

Any and all constructive criticism is very much appreciated... Thanks much y'all!!

[ambiirae]

@Casual-T honestly I love it! The only thing that draws me out a bit is the string doesn’t truly look attached to me nor do I find it adds much to it. The rest of the design is delightful I love the tiny little branch that comes off and the way the wire is attached looks great

[Casual-T]

@ambiirae Hey, Amber... Thanks much for taking the time to comment. Glad you’re digging the design. I added the little string on the side because I wanted to show how the lamp was turned on and off. Do you have any suggestions on how to better “attach” the string?

[Heather Boyd]

@Casual-T I love fungi so +++++ from me for that! I like that you've worked in or out a back story of how the lamp actually works which is beautiful by the way. Perhaps instead of a string pull down turn on, turn off, maybe the mouse just needs to rub (even could rub snuggle, intimate contact with nature lols) the top part (red), I am thinking like a mix of rub the genie lamp and those old clap on clap off lights. But you'd have to have that play into your story, but anyways. I like it!

[Morten Christiansen]

@Casual-T Cool concept. A couple of random thoughts that struck me:

• A bit of liquid could seep out where the cord attaches to illustrate the nutrient aspect.
• The wood part has clearly been created with a tool. Depending on the story background for this it could make more sense for the wood to be processed by the teeth of the mouse, thus being more raw.
• The perspective of the wire does not seem to align with the perspective of the wooden stand. I think the 'S' curve at the right should be flattened a bit vertically for it to fit.

[Casual-T]

@Heather-Boyd Fungi are, indeed, awesome... Especially with tartar sauce!! And I love your idea of giving the lamp the old Rub-A-Dub-Dub, to turn it on and off. I might very well incorporate that, if it ever comes to me actually writing a little story with this character. Much appreciate the comment, Heather.

[Casual-T]

@Morten-Christiansen Thanks for your suggestions, Morten.

• A couple splashes of liquid are a great idea.
• I'm thinking this mouse may or may not have a nice little wood workshop in the backroom. As you said, it depends on the rest of the story.
• I have a love/hate relationship with perspective. Well, that's only 50% true!! I'm glad you caught that.

[Casual-T]

Updated the prop according to some of you guys' suggestions. Straightened out the perspective on the wire (I hope), and added a few drops of nutri-juice dripping out. I decided to keep the string (for the time being) since it serves as an on/off mechanism in this stand-alone illustration. If this were part of a story, it would be easier to explain how the lamp turns on and off without the string.

Much appreciate the input from you good folks out there.

-T

[Casual-T]

Happy Monday, everyone!

Here's the finished (or so I hope) prop ensemble, using the lamp as the anchor prop; chair, table, mug, book.

For someone like myself, someone who doesn't have years of experience drawing and illustrating, and who, at times, still struggles with basic concepts such as perspective (you devilish fiend!!), some of these class assignments seem insurmountable at first. But one careful stylus line at a time, one patient brush stroke after another, the images take shape and, after a time, come to life. It's those small successes which motivate and encourage. Thanks SVS!

Any comments, constructive criticism, or suggestions are much appreciated.

-T