Whimsical Christmas Village

[theedwin]

Hello All!

I gave an assignment to the 2 kids at work that have the greatest imaginations and best drawing skills. I told each of them to draw a "Whimsical Christmas Village" so that I could re create it in 3 dimensional cardboard form for this years Christmas display.

They both asked me what I meant by "Whimsical", and I told them it was something between a cartoon and real life. Stuff that doesn't really happen but you wish it could - but in drawn form.

William posted his drawing (in pen by the way) on the cork board in the office for me to find, and David hasn't given me his yet. He said he did it, but he did it in his art book.

Here is Williams version:

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/WhimsicleChristmasVillage.jpg

I really like William's version of the assignment! A snowman on the roof of a house, a barrel next to a house, a (what looks to me) cop hitting someone in the head with a snowball... AND the Candy Cane fence around the tree! (and the detail of the tree). Not to mention the patchy snow on the roof tops! (did you notice the corn cob pipe the snowman in the lower left is smoking?)

This was too cute and awesome not to share! I can't wait to see what David comes up with!

Geez I wish I could Draw!


See, we aren't all crazy, there are others that think about Christmas!

[Rybcon]

If you've never heard (or read) the story "Paddy O' Cinnamon and the Silver Star" I encourage you to find it. A wonderful radio story from 1937. Things it includes are the "Crazy Quilt Dragon", a "Walrus Policeman" , the "Root Beer Ocean", the "Wintergreen Witch", "Looking Glass Mountain". And so much more. It would make a fantasic Christmas display.

[Craig]

That is just a COOL idea the kid came up with! LOVE IT!:)

[bethene]

that is so awesome! I love it!!

[putrid]

Totally cool picture! Are you planing on a 3D or flat version?

[Just Whisper]

What a wonderful drawing. William is very talented and imaginative. Glad you shared it.

[EnlightenedGrinch]

Cool drawing! He is very talented!
It kind of reminds me of ChristmasTown in Nightmare Before Christmas.

[Sickie Ickie]

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

[theedwin]

Thanks everyone!

I told William today that I scanned his picture and put it on here and he was interested in what you guys had to say. I will show him tomorrow and I know he will get a kick out of it! :D

The plan is to create a village based on the drawing. The houses will be actual houses (with 4 walls and windows etc). Each house will be constructed out of cardboard and will stand 3 to 4 feet tall.

Here is a simple sketch that I made today for the construction of the houses. Again this is simple, I just wanted to see if would work.

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/stuff/WhimsacleHousetrialA.jpg

I actually had to use MATH to figure this out, but I did. Then I realized that I could have probably gone on the internet and printed something like this out.... Oh well.. I would rather be able to plan it and do it myself! :D

Here is what the above picture turned out like when I cut it out and taped it together.

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/stuff/Picture442.jpg

So far so good! The plan is to up size this to the cardboard sheets that I have been hoarding. LOL And here is a pic of the cardboard that I have saved up so far.

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/stuff/cardboard.jpg

I have another 8 sheets of cardboard that I can add to my collection, and I think I will need them! I have learned all sorts of tricks about building cardboard creations from building all of those standees for the theatre.

I can't wait to get this project going! :D

[Craig]

Hey Edwin,

Would you be so kind as to show us pics of the progress as you are building the houses? I don't know about anybody else, but I am ALWAYS up for learning new tricks, techniques, and ideas of any kind!:):):)

[Buckeyelights]

Edwin,

If he has any interest in architectural, the kids has a pretty darn good chance at very successful career. His drawing ability is very good. I have a degree in architecture, but I'm not a licensed architect; I went a different path out of school. Anyway he can draw a lot better than many of my classmates, present company included. Although computer drawing has taken over the field, there is a very limited supply of artists in the field.

Encourage him to at least give it a look.

Joe

[theedwin]

Thanks Buckeye,

He is going into computer animation, so at least his skills aren't going to be wasted.

[IluvChristmas]

Love the drawing!!

[chris]

Edwin really nice pics! Yes let us know how it's going, I like the idea!

[theedwin]

Thanks everyone!

I brought home some more cardboard tonight. And I was researching "Christmas Houses" on the internet for ideas. David was suspended for a week because he can be an idiot, and was.... so I don't have his rendition yet...

I have Sunday off, so I will bring home my rulers and angles to start working on this. I should have a "test house" done by Wednesday night. (crossing fingers).

[EnlightenedGrinch]

Edwin, just make one that looks like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v630/DaveNTracy/Christmas%20Props/nightmare001.jpg

[theedwin]

That's cute EG! I like the doors and the snow on the roofs.

I will keep it in mind.

[Sickie Ickie]

I like that it is cartoonish and the windows and doors aren't square.

[Nephew Fred]

Why is it sealed in a glass case, high on a wall ?
What is living in that little house that wants to get out ?
Is it a Who-Ville Sanitarium escapee ?
Have I watched to many scary movies again ?
Just curious....

[EnlightenedGrinch]

LOL, Fred.
I bought that house on E-bay several years ago. It's an actual set piece from Christmastown in "Nightmare Before Christmas".
I built a platform and display case for it out of plexiglass.
You can easily see it if you watch the movie-it's in the background when Jack walks into the Christmastown sign, right before he sees "Sandy Claws" for the first time.

[theedwin]

That's really neat EG! What a nice collectible piece! Curious: What's it made out of?

[EnlightenedGrinch]

The best I can tell is most of house is made from either foamboard or cardboard. Possibly covered in plaster and then painted. Obviously something like Great Stuff foam was used for the snow on the roof. The divisions in the window are made of wire and the two smaller windows are supposed to look like presents, since the wire is in the shape of a bow. On the right side of the house is an attic window (not in the picture) with small slats inside made of wood to look like a real attic.
Hard to believe this house has survived for 18 years, especially with the rough history it's had (from what I was told by the guy I bought it from).

[theedwin]

It makes me wonder who the person was who constructed it, and what they were thinking when they made it. "oh, I'll just use some wire" LOL. I am sure that Mr. Burton had some input as to how it looked, but that is a great piece with a great story!

Thanks for Sharing that Dave! :D

[Nephew Fred]

OK, now I am impressed.
What a great piece of cinema history.
thanks for sharing that with us, EG

[Sickie Ickie]

Indeed, very incredibly cool!

[EnlightenedGrinch]

Thanks! Well, I didn't mean to hijack your thread, Edwin. I'll start another thread with the story behind the house and some better pics.
(It's in the "Christmas Decorations" topic area.)

[Sickie Ickie]

Did you do your prototype yet Edwin?

[theedwin]

No Sickie, and it doesn't look I will get around to it in the next couple of days... More on that in the June weekly if there is one yet... LOL

I did start working with cardboard and Rasterbator today. That was interesting! (and it turned out pretty good as well.) More on that later when I have a picture to share.

[Sickie Ickie]

What's Rasterbator ?

[EnlightenedGrinch]

Is that anything like a Hammerfore?

[Sickie Ickie]

Maybe something like a henway?

[EnlightenedGrinch]

Yea, one of those two should work fine!

[theedwin]

Rasterbator is an online program that will blow up a picture to any size. At first I thought I would like it, but it just prints dots. Big dots. If you were on the moon the picture might look cool, but in the same room it looks like a bunch of dots....

http://homokaasu.org/rasterbator/

[Sickie Ickie]

LOL Didn't some artists do that in paintings?

[Craig]

LOL Didn't some artists do that in paintings?

Yup, it was called "pointillism" (never cared for the style myself)

[theedwin]

Yah, I don't care for it either....

[Sickie Ickie]

I think it's kinda cool when you have no idea what it is and when you step back the whole thing comes together.

[theedwin]

Well then, check this out Sickie!

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/stuff/Picture466.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/stuff/Picture468.jpg

http://i443.photobucket.com/albums/qq158/theedwin/stuff/twilight.jpg

Next time I do this, it will be with photo paper..

[Sickie Ickie]

Nice job, Edwin!

[EnlightenedGrinch]

Are those the characters form the "Mod Squad" movie???

[Mr. Griswold]

Nice job on the Twilight crew! I am guilty of reading the books and also owning the movies :)

[theedwin]

Thanks everyone! They were fun, and I do notice lots of people taking pictures... :D What's cool is the pics were "thumbnails" when I downloaded them.