Can you paint the sky?

Sorry for the small hiatus. Been a little busy. 

I thought you'd like to see the 

backdrop that we just finished for Talley's Folly. Isn't it pretty? It took us 4 days, from stapling it down and starching to fire retarding it. That's actually about a medium amount of time for a drop. Many drops only take 2 or 3 days.

And if you look over on the left edge you can see the top of the gazebo. 

The drop is massive - 54' x 30something. It barely fits on our deck.

Hmm -  it's hard to find something that will put it in perspective... 

okay - along the wall, right in the middle there is an unpainted door. Does that put it into scale any more for you?

The clouds were done by Carrie with an assortment of sprayers and a few pieced of torn cardboard to define the edges. The leaves were done mostly with giant stamps that we made and a few painted in to break ups some edges. Rather backbreaking I must say.

I don't know how much you know about how painters do drops or pretty much anything on the floor. We actually paint standing up and using bamboo.

Now THESE PICTURE ARE NOT US - but I don't have a picture of us painting with bamboo. I found these on google to use as an example. But we do paint in our socks or bare feet, so we don't track little footprints around. 

Maybe I'll get some good pictures of our crackling technique today to show.

I'll miss you Disney

Back from another wonderful Disney trip. I think Indiana Jones is still ranking up there as my favorite, closely followed by Fantasmic, but obviously everything was wonderful.

Changes: Spaceship Earth is now narrated by Dame Judi Dench and has interactive computers in each seat.

There was also a new Toy Story Ride at the Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM). I didn't go on it - the line was always freakishly long, but Dad and Lui did. It's a lot like the Buzz Lightyear ride, but everything is 3-D - including the things that you fire!

The hotel we stayed in had a hallway that looked like it could have been featured in The Shining. Every time we walked out into it we expected to see creepy twins.

I did the Behind the Seeds tour behind the Land ride. Totally worth it! All the hydroponics were explained, I got to see several unusual plants, I released ladybugs into the greenhouses and fed tilapia, and I was stared at by the people passing by in the boats!

 I also got a look at several awesome props. Davy Jone's Pipe organ, the Black Pearl's Figurehead, and some costumes from Pirates, a bunch of the props and costumes from the Narnia movies, and some costumes from Enchanted.

All in all, a fabulous vacation. And seeing how it was with my family, we now have a bunch more inside jokes!

PS: if you are looking for cheap(er) alcohol in Disney - go to Morocco!

Off to Disney! Aren't you jealous? We'll be back on Monday. Which is Grant's Birthday - wish him a happy one.

I've developed an odd twitch in my right biceps. Not sure why. Stress maybe? But I'm going to one of the most stress free places on earth, so hopefully it will clear up. 

You're standing on my neck

Sitting around on a saturday watching daria equals utter awesomeness.

how many boxes does it take to move sue's books?

looks like we're moving folks. To Allison apartments, where Deb and Matt live. We're getting the 2 bedroom. 

I already am working on the floorplan. Going to take pictures tomorrow, so I'll have renderings to post soon.

i do not trivialize your pain

I finally have drawn a few of my heartache cards.  This is my girl and the logo. I'm thinking about etsy what do you think?

The idea is to not trivialize or minimize another persons pain. These are not a comforting, "things will get better" cards. These cards are for the ache of the moment, when pain is the worst, and it feels like it will never end. It's a way to say, "my heart bleeds for you,""my entire soul is a cry," "such compelling cause to grieve."

Obviously not for everyone, but I'd probaby buy one.

Talley's Folly

For those who don't know, the reason I decided to concentrate on scenic design in school was because of a specific set design by John Lee Beatty, Talley's Folly.

What's really amazing is that McCarter Theatre is going to reproduce the original Broadway design for their 2008-2009 season! AND I GET TO PAINT IT!!

Aren't his renderings beautiful! The show takes place in an old dilapidated boathouse, that was built by someone who loved gazebos. 

It's a bittersweet love story and only has two characters.

Sh*t Happens

It's now officially cool to pick up dog poo.

It's even got a built in scoop.

who ever thought the day would come?

Spectacular Spectacular

I spent the last day and a half (a lot of it in the middle of the night) setting up my new website. The old one seemed a little cheesy.

Not all of the links have pages to go to yet - but most of the photography section is set up. I realized that I have so many great pictures that maybe I should have  side business. So pass the word - but only if they want artsy!

the mind of sue

and if you want to see the one for Grant's company go to ghostlightcustom.com.   He doesn't know what he wants to do yet, but when he does, he's got a supercool logo!

A great image is worth a thousand pictures

Since my last post I've been in South Carolina, read four books, and have taken over 1,000 pictures.

Grant's sister Elyse wanted me to take her senior pictures for her. Her stipulations were that they be artistic and anything but normal senior pictures. 

And since we were near the beach, she wanted them there. We took two evenings, three outfits, and 10 hours of sifting and editing to come up with about 30 amazing shots. 

Here are some of my favorites:

Until we meet again

Do you ever miss characters from a book?

So here is the flag that I painted for a Commerce Bank Event 

Turned out pretty nice, huh?

Finally got a break

So - I've been working like a crazy person, but it's all okay now. The opera is over, I've done samples for Angels and I get to sit back for a while and let the carpenters build the set. Plus I have a super-fun weekend to look forward to. 

I also have 2 new airbrushes to play around with and a scroll saw in case I want to make pretty pretty things. Maybe I'll even get to work on my book a little more. And a massive Making of Indiana Jones book to look through.

I probably should fold laundry and clean, but what fun is that?

Answer: no fun.

besides its a beautiful day, but it might not stay like that, so I might as well go out there now.

We May Be Going to Broadway

Yep. According to Playbill.com the next show I will be working on at Proof Productions is aimed at going to Broadway. It's a musical titled Angels.

Speaking of Proof Productions, the set for the Florida Grand Opera's production of La Traviata is going well. Proof has some pictures up on their website of some of the smaller set pieces. Some of the images are unfinished, but anything with some paint on it was done by me!!

Remember Jonny Quest?

Remember Jonny Quest? He was always getting himself into trouble. After my post a few days ago, I was missing those episodes, so I went looking for them. I found a guy online who had all (or at least most) of the Real Adventures of Jonny Quest episodes split and on YouTube! So I made my own YouTube playlist of them so I can watch/listen while I'm working at my computer.

Just in case you are interested. Dan. Doug. Debb?