New Paper Mache Dragon-the video
I'm going to blather a bit. For you non-readers out there, just go to my site and watch the new video. Just follow the link below. For those of you with nothing better to do, read on.
I've become rather compulsive in my old age. Okay, so I've always been compulsive. But now I'm blindingly so. Making these time-lapse videos have become a necessity for me. I can't seem to start a new project until I've put one of these together. It's strange. I don't even enjoy it all that much. I sit in front of a computer for two or three weeks trying to edit hours of video. And I do mean hours. Peter Jackson has nothing on me. I end up making hundreds of cuts trying to patch together video that is, most of the time, poorly shot. And I have this unreasonable need to get the video down to three minutes or less. Many of my cuts are one-tenth of a second long. To make matters worse, when I'm working on a project, I often forget that the camera is rolling. It's often parked above my work table. Twice during this dragon build I happily finished what I was doing on the dragon, cleaned up and went to bed, only to remember the next day, while I'm at my teaching job, that I left the camera running. For technical reasons I have to reformat my video. It took several hours just to reformat two 18 hour video segments. I ended up using 9 seconds total footage from both of those videos. Even when I do know the camera is running, I simply get engrossed in what I'm doing and wreck the shot. I intended to show more of the blackwash stage of this build. It always looks good on video. This time I blackwashed the entire front of the dragon standing directly between the dragon and the camera. No amount of editing can fix 2 hours of video that just shows my back. Without repainting the entire dragon, it can't be fixed. Lastly, I want to say that, as I've gotten older, I've gotten more vain. The more I video myself, the more shocked I am about what I see. For example, to my horror, I notice that I grimace 90% of the time while I work. Now, no offense to my dear deceased mother, but my mother used to do that. Us kids made fun of her for it. Now I do it. In fact, at times, I look like her in the video! So I have to cut out any scene where I look like my mother, grimacing. I left the camera going while I took one of my many cookie breaks. The camera caught some of it. See if you can see it in the video. Okay, so they aren't actually cookies. They are "Nilla Wafers." They call them that because there is no actual vanilla in them. But they are great with milk. I eat them whenever I have something I have to do, or not. In fact, I'm going to have a little pile of Nillas as soon as I publish this entry.
Does anyone care about all this? No. But there it is anyway. I just want you to appreciate the video.
So press "video" below to get to the video. It's on my site. It's under the photo of the dragon. Make sure you chose the full screen option. You can see the high definition that way.
Oh, by the way, the best part of the video is when I'm trimming the spine webbing. It just fits the cadence of the music perfectly. The music is a bit peppy, but the cadence is perfect. Also, I swear I can hear voices humming during parts of this music. My friend Willow thinks it's in my head. Tell me if you can hear it too.
Thank you for stopping by. I'm starting a new project on this blog. No dragon this time. First post will be tomorrow. I promise.
Dan
Click here to go to video.
I've become rather compulsive in my old age. Okay, so I've always been compulsive. But now I'm blindingly so. Making these time-lapse videos have become a necessity for me. I can't seem to start a new project until I've put one of these together. It's strange. I don't even enjoy it all that much. I sit in front of a computer for two or three weeks trying to edit hours of video. And I do mean hours. Peter Jackson has nothing on me. I end up making hundreds of cuts trying to patch together video that is, most of the time, poorly shot. And I have this unreasonable need to get the video down to three minutes or less. Many of my cuts are one-tenth of a second long. To make matters worse, when I'm working on a project, I often forget that the camera is rolling. It's often parked above my work table. Twice during this dragon build I happily finished what I was doing on the dragon, cleaned up and went to bed, only to remember the next day, while I'm at my teaching job, that I left the camera running. For technical reasons I have to reformat my video. It took several hours just to reformat two 18 hour video segments. I ended up using 9 seconds total footage from both of those videos. Even when I do know the camera is running, I simply get engrossed in what I'm doing and wreck the shot. I intended to show more of the blackwash stage of this build. It always looks good on video. This time I blackwashed the entire front of the dragon standing directly between the dragon and the camera. No amount of editing can fix 2 hours of video that just shows my back. Without repainting the entire dragon, it can't be fixed. Lastly, I want to say that, as I've gotten older, I've gotten more vain. The more I video myself, the more shocked I am about what I see. For example, to my horror, I notice that I grimace 90% of the time while I work. Now, no offense to my dear deceased mother, but my mother used to do that. Us kids made fun of her for it. Now I do it. In fact, at times, I look like her in the video! So I have to cut out any scene where I look like my mother, grimacing. I left the camera going while I took one of my many cookie breaks. The camera caught some of it. See if you can see it in the video. Okay, so they aren't actually cookies. They are "Nilla Wafers." They call them that because there is no actual vanilla in them. But they are great with milk. I eat them whenever I have something I have to do, or not. In fact, I'm going to have a little pile of Nillas as soon as I publish this entry.
Does anyone care about all this? No. But there it is anyway. I just want you to appreciate the video.
So press "video" below to get to the video. It's on my site. It's under the photo of the dragon. Make sure you chose the full screen option. You can see the high definition that way.
Oh, by the way, the best part of the video is when I'm trimming the spine webbing. It just fits the cadence of the music perfectly. The music is a bit peppy, but the cadence is perfect. Also, I swear I can hear voices humming during parts of this music. My friend Willow thinks it's in my head. Tell me if you can hear it too.
Thank you for stopping by. I'm starting a new project on this blog. No dragon this time. First post will be tomorrow. I promise.
Dan
Click here to go to video.
Posted by Dan the Monster-man at 5/31/2011 9:02 PM 
Categories: New Paper Mache Dragon Project
Tags: paper mache papier mache sculpture dragons babies arts and crafts diy howto instructional video
Categories: New Paper Mache Dragon Project
Tags: paper mache papier mache sculpture dragons babies arts and crafts diy howto instructional video
Got the error of the number wrong again, so hope this doesn't post twice!
Boy I bet you do spend alot of time making those video's and I know everyone appreciates them as much as me! Though the music is not something I'll be putting on my MP3 I think is fits well with your vid's, the vibe is perfect. I suppose the humming is digital, I thought perhaps long violin strokes and figured is was similar in sound but a synthetic/digital/electric violin. As usual, loved the video, really adds something to the build that flat photo's dont, so thank you so much for going to all that trouble!!! I'd like to suggest you get some pic's of her head (with the baby too, if the egg is movable) and sell pics of that, its just too gorgeous to not spread around, a head shot of that would make a fantastic framed picture. (avatar, t-shirt, etc) a full body shot wouldn't bring in the detail that's involved, a close up would really show the amount of work you put in on these! Great job on the vid DAN!! looking forward to the next project!!
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Hi Suz,
I can't believe you read all that blathering. That's very nice of you. Now that I'm awake, I think I'll edit a lot of that out. Thank you as always for your nice remarks. You make me feel great. Makes me glad I did the video.
Take care. Keep making your art.
Dan
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Well, I can't believe you go to all that extra trouble, just for us!! And I agree with Ande, we love the blathering, I don't see it as complaining, it IS alot of work! There isn't anything I'd take out of it, it shows you are a real person and not some magical master who snaps his finger and its done (though it looks that way!) I can't thank you enough for sharing all you do, with us! And seriously, I think you should sell pictures of it!
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I can only imagine the hours you put into your creations and then adding the videos on top of it. I love reading your posts and especially when you "blather." It lets us get to know you as a person (not just an artist) a little better. And my boys and I love the videos. Even though they don't do justice to your final creations, it is amazing to actually "watch" what you are doing. You really get a feel for how time consuming your pieces are when you watch the videos. So from myself and my boys, Please, Please don't stop making the videos. They are quite inspirational. Can't wait to see the next piece!
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Thanks Ande! That's nice of you to write. I'm not really complaining. I really must make the videos now. When they turn out, it is very satisfying, especially if the original video had holes in it or problems. It's a challenge.
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I did not realize that the videos were so much work. I thought you just took one or two files, strung them together, and increased the playback rate. At least, that's what it looks like you do (I kid, I kid).
Since 3D is all the rage now. When will we start seeing 3D versions of these videos? And, any chance of Angelina Jolie making a cameo?
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You are very funny Kris! Many people think that I shoot at regular speed then double the playback. I actually shoot 1 frame per second then double the playback to slow it down. So it still comes across as blazing fast. 3D dragons, now that would be interesting!
So nice to hear from you!
Dan
PS. You know, you were the first person to see that I had come back to the art world after my hiatus (from having kids and building my house). In fact, you were the first person to buy a dragon-making book. I've always been embarrassed about that since you were one of only a few people to get the black and white version. I quickly realized that people would rather pay more for color than less for black and white. I discontinued the black and white after a couple books. Anyway, if you sent me your address (via my email, dan@gourmetpapermache.com) I'll send you a copy of my published book. I'll feel better.
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ho-leeee shit. i just came across your site. this is some of the best work i have seen on the internet in ages. and i love that its all paper and clothe mache, nothing super crazy. the final work is absolutely great and very inspiring. i've used super sculpey in the past, not realizing you could do so much with paper mache like this. faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaantastic! do you sell these? i figure for the size and time that goes into them you must.
drMikey
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Hello Dr Mikey,
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LOL I enjoy the blathering too! It's something that makes my ADD (or ADHD or some group of letters),caffeine pickled brain slow down and read. And the videos go about my normal speed, so your site is the perfect exercise for me!
Seriously though, your videos add a lot to my enjoyment of your art. I love to watch the process.
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Thank you Joey!
Very funny comment. I totally get the ADHD aspect. It's hard for me to stay on one straight train of thought as well. And I guess it's okay to blather on a blog once in a while. I'm glad you like the videos. I'll keep making them regardless. It is fun when it finally comes together. For all the gaps and flaws in the raw video of this build, the video turned out all right. Nice to hear from you!
Dan
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I drop by to tell you that I
like your work very much it real art with creative thinking. I enjoin it and thank you for your kindness to sent me your hard work I appreciated that much
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Hello Siriporn,
It is very nice to meet you. Thank you for your nice comment! I'm very happy that you like my work. It means a lot to me that you took the time to tell me so.
Take care
Dan
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I don't know which I like better, your work or your sense of humour. Actually, the one informs the other. I am coming back to papier mache in a big way, and your work (and descriptions of your work) are outstanding.
I'm glad I found you.
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Hi Carole,
It's nice to meet you! Thank you for stopping by, and thank you for your flattering remarks. Glad to hear you are back to the paper mache world. Best of luck to you. Keep in touch.
Dan
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