Building Blocks

Building Blocks from Vanessa Chan on Vimeo.

My senior film from SCAD. It's a stop motion short with crochet puppets, I had a great time creating this film and I hope you enjoy!

New Sculpt

I'm working on a new puppet right now, currently in the sculpt stage. For this puppet I used a much harder clay, Chavant clay NSP hard brown, rather than the Roma plastalina I used for this sculpt. I really like the Chavant clay, it takes a bit to get used to since it needs to be heated up to get it pliable, but it hardens up again when cooled. This makes it easier to get more detail and I'm not worried about denting my sculpt. I have a lot more smoothing and detailing work to do, but I can't wait to finish this puppet!

Making a Foam Latex Puppet: Part IV

So here's my final foam latex puppet! Instead of painting the foam, I crocheted around it using a fine yarn. Crocheting is awesome and I like to combine it with stop motion. Next one will be painted . . .  and wearing a little bikini. Stay tuned! 

Thing #2 that I shall own one day

So a while back I decided to that in practicing my prop modeling skills, the theme would be things that I wish to own one day. The first item was an olive green corduroy couch. The second, a Dyson vacuum cleaner! Specifically the DC24 Multi floor model. Yes, I'm a dork, but I know I'm not the only one who likes to think about what their future home will look like! I just take it one step further and imagine my future appliances too.

Making a Foam Latex Puppet: Part III

So my second attempt at foaming was successful, no wrinkly puppet here!

How NOT to Foam Your Puppet

I tried to foam my my armature today. It didn't go that well, in fact it kind of failed, but here's a look at what happened.

Making a Foam Latex Puppet: Part II

Here's a little time lapse video of me making my puppet mold! 

Making a Foam Latex Puppet: Part I

So I'm learning a new way to make foam latex puppets for stop motion and I'm freakishly excited about it! Before, I was creating puppets by layering sheets of foam over the armature and then cutting away using tiny craft scissors to create the shape of the puppet. It was a very slow, tedious process and getting a smooth surface was difficult. But with this other method, you create a sculpt of your puppet, create a mold from that, and then you can foam your armature using the mold. 

3D Printing a Vacuum

Last year I decided to practice my prop modeling skills and that the theme would be things that I wish to have in my future home. The first thing was an olive green corduroy couch, next is a Dyson vacuum cleaner! Specifically, the DC24 model. Originally I thought I was going to make it out of a combo of sculpey clay, aluminum wire, and bits of plastic that I had around, but then I discovered the wonder that is Rhino! Rhino is a NURBS based 3D modeling program, and normally I am not that great with computer programs, actually I'm pretty bad at them, but Rhino was easy to pick up. I did some online tutorials, and then used all the basic commands that I learned to model the vacuum.

Things I shall own one day

So in practicing my prop modeling skills, I've decided the theme will be things that I wish to have in my future home. And the first item is a couch. But not just any couch, an olive green corduroy couch that's not too soft, but not too hard with some detailing along the armrests and the bottom and the back has to be just the right height so when you sit and lean back, your neck is at a comfortable angle, perfect for watching the latest in reality television. Perhaps I should start saving for this custom couch since my specifications ensure that I will never find it in any showroom.

Some progress photos, I started out by making the base with some foam core and then I applied foam sheets on with some rubber cement and shaped it. I then sewed the cover for the back rest and the armrests, did some embroidery on them and attached all the pieces together. The couch cushions were made out of foam with some polyester filling so they would look more squishy. The dimensions are 12"W 7.5"H 6"D.

I need a super laser that can blow this couch up to human size. I would also use this laser to make graham crackers big enough for those giant marshmallows they sell now at the supermarket. You could also use it make any cute clothes you find in the girl's department larger because for whatever reason they don't come in women's sizes even though they should. The possibilities are endless!