Watching the film

The film was made in 1937 and is in complete black and white. There are many diary entry's throughout the film, which I thought I could utilise somehow, along with maps of the journey.

Karen Caldicott

Jodi Creager

Sketches

Idea 1

My first idea is to create a 3 dimensional carriage from either wire and fabric or paper. The paper design could be made from the diary entry's that are seen in the film, so that the words are written all over the carriage. The wire design would have the wire framework with fabric layered over the top. I would then make a rocky scene for the carriage to sit on.

Idea 2

This idea is to use plasticine, like my artist Lisa Caldicott, to create figures of the characters/ backgrounds.

Idea 3

Left is the original rough sketch of an over sized diamond inside a mine with the film title on the entrance. The right id a more developed, thought out design. 
How to make:
* Clay/ plastercine
* Cardboard/ paper
* wood

Idea 4

I took the screenshot from the film and drew a rough sketch and them drew it out properly. 
I would create a 3D map.
How to make: 
* Cardboard/ paper mache 
* Plasticine
​* foamboard

Idea 5

This is an image of King Solomon's mask. I started with the idea that the word King could make his crown. I then developed it to have the mask laying in treasure (gold coins and diamonds etc).
How to make:
* clay
* cardboard sculpture
​* paper mache

Idea 6

This is a wooden torch that I have incorporated into the typography. I developed it by putting it inside a mine and making the type into wood to resemble the torch.
How to make:
* wood
* sticks/ twigs

Experimentation

I decided on the King's mask for the final design. I have experimented with clay to make the actual mask. I think this turned out well and I plan on painting it to create a simliar effect to the original mask.

Paper mache

 I used the clay mask, before painting, to create a paper mache mask. I knew that I had to use something to cover the clay first, so that I will be able to get it off the clay afterwards. FIrst I tried clingfilm which was too loose on the mask, I needed something that would wrap around the mask tightly to ensure that the detail isn't going to be lost in the paper mache version. So I used masking tape to cover the whole mask before starting the paper mache process.

Wooden lollypop sticks

For the title I began experimenting with lollypop sticks. Right from the start I knew that a single stick design wasn't going to be 3D enough, so I layered 3 sticks ontop of each other for each section of the letters. Originally my plan was to glue each section together shown in the first image. I found out that using PVA glue didn't allow the pieces to stick together properly. So instead I stacked the different pieces on top of each other. In the end I liked the effect that ths gave to the letters. However, this method of using the sticks took quite a while to make.

Development

I decided to experiment with paint before starting to make the real mask. After a feedback session with Dwayne and Jim I realised that not painting the mask was an option so I to decide I paint the mask with a crack through it to incorporate both. I then thought that I should add more contrast, so I painted it black. However, it wasn't quite what I was going for.

I needed to incorporate diamonds some how as they are what are found in the mines. I made a rough one out of paper first to see if the net was correct. I then drew out the net on card and painted them with gouache paint.

The making of the final piece

I decided to make the title from clay by attaching it to the mask. For the background I made a LOT of tiny coins from clay. I also played with sweet wrappers over the camera to create different effects. I think that the orange one worked well with the golden "treasure".

I took everything outside to experiment with the background.

I painted a background on black card to give the illusion of more coins, and I experimented with the sweet wrappers. I came to the conclusion that the "mines" was too rounded and I wasn't able to get all of the letters in the photo, so I broke off the letters.

My sister had an acrylic red diamond which I included and then realised I could use it to create a filter by holding it under a flashlight to create better lighting for my poster. I replaced the red diamond with my painted card ones instead.

Final poster