doodle

As a follow-up to the ballerina automaton post from yesterday here's a quick doodle in a similar vein.

atop

Here are some pics of the figure that now adorns the box from a couple of days ago. As you can see she can be posed in a variety of ways. Her elastic joints keep the pose fixed as she pirouettes.

non-musical box

This week I cobbled together a simple mechanism for a nice wooden box I bought at a charity shop. The box originally held two packs of playing cards but I'm thinking it could just be for trinkets. I've made it so as the mechanism is fully housed in the hinged lid. Atop the box will be one of my world famous (!) poseable ballerina figures! So, as the handle is turned, she will pirouette to whatever tune you care to hum. If you would like the finished article (£20 including free world-wide p&p) please just comment. I'll leave it here for a week before I put it in one of my shops.

Bridge

Today's flea market find -

A vintage double bass(?) bridge. It seems to be too large to be from a cello. Am thinking it could be a sort of backdrop to a ballerina automaton figure. The central arch is a bit too small to house a figure, unless I make it quite a small one ( it might have to be 'fixed' and not poseable).

swan lake

The latest automaton to leave my workbench. 

Again, a simple mechanism. This frame on this one is made from a cut down domino box.

The ballerina figure is poseable. Compare this pic with the first.

Must make the effort to list these in my shops to gauge interest.

automata

In y4 for the last couple of weeks we've been doing a bit of Design Technology. We've made lever mechanisms, like those often found in picture/pop-up books, ie. 2D and with a linear motion (I must take some videos - some were ingenious!). We've now moved on to 3D, with a linear movement being converted into a rotary one. This is the mechanism we constructed out of 'Tech card' and paper fasteners. You pull the lever and the upright column turns ;

 

The children then created their own little automata. A golfer putting;

 

Bees swarming in front of their hive;

 

 

And a ballerina pirouetting in front of an appreciative audience;

 

Next week we're going to get two (or more!) 'figures' to rotate from the one lever movement!

automaton

The latest automaton to grace my work table. This time using a wooden block for the base and a simple turntable mechanism. Again, the figure is poseable and twirls as the handle is turned.

 

The small red beads you can see in this pic support the turntable.

 

Quite pleased with the simplicity of this one. It also breaks down into two parts so is relatively easy to package should I decide to sell them through my shops. What do folk think?

finished

Yesterday I completed the ballerina automaton and it works! The figure is still poseable and she twirls when you turn the handle. The box lid slides in and out. Quite proud of this little piece though you do have to hum or whistle a little tune as you turn the handle in order to get the full 'musical box' experience.

 

I've left the box plain as this was a prototype but obviously it could be painted, decoupaged, stained etc. Am now on the lookout for more boxes to adapt.

recently

In y3 we created some Gorgon pictures. We used sharpies for the heads/faces and then blew watered-down paint to represent the writhing and wriggling mass of snakes atop.

 

In y5 we continued along our Green/enhancing the environment theme by painting some small stones.

Meanwhile I've been adapting an old 'farm animal' domino box by installing a simple automaton mechanism. The right-hand side will feature the poseable peg ballerina from a recent post whilst the left will still be a useable space. I'm hoping that the ballerina will rotate!

BIG 2

It wasn't as messy as it could have been! The children were very sensible and managed to cover large areas of the dinosaurs rather than themselves!

 

 A little wooden peg doll I whittled recently. The joints are tied with elastic making it poseable.

puppets

In FS1 we've been making panda stick puppets;

 

In Y1 we made 'talking' puppets using a wooden spring peg;

mondays doodle

Todays doodle - ballerina 'bot.

A5, ink & pencil on paper.

 

even more cards

Yet another card 'design' - ballet dancers. It's quite therapeutic to draw these cards. If no-one buys any I'll have plenty to go at when I'm stuck for a last minute card! 

 

 

A6 single fold, pen & pencil.

on my drawing board

A few quick sketches of enthusiastic belles undertaking some ballet poses!

'bots

Been very busy of late - what with end of term, form filling, data compiling etc. Managed a few quick sketches of 'bots. After the hols I might think about putting some sketches (or paintings?) on Folksy. Seem to have had more retail success of late on Folksy as opposd to Etsy.

Big apologies for the poor photo - my 'art room' is in the cellar and the shadow is caused by the ceiling light! Can't see if I turn it off!!

recent doings

More card model try outs - seem to have got a bit of a thing for these at the moment;


All constructed from the same basic template.

And on my 'painting table' (ooh, sounds grand when you say it like that) - 'Off t'match' ;

kinetic art

Tried to interest the children in making some kinetic art pieces today - with mixed success. In my mock-up the ballerina's legs move when the card is jiggled. Am thinking that this could be good for birthday cards etc. They just didn't seem to appreciate that the pieces needed to be relatively chunky for it to work - oh well, I tried. Suppose they'd rather do lots and lots of writing instead!

book proposal

Have put a drawing book proposal into the ether - well, e-mailed it to a few agents anyway. I've developed a unique and very simple method for creating easily recognisable pictures and have got to the point where I am tentatively pushing it out there. Probably way above my humble station but you never know.

dancing bears

Definately should be doing something else!