Another musical inspired painted diorama with added electricity! Here are some photos from a recent project created for LW Theatres. It’s a study of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane celebrating the launch of Hercules. An angled view of the architectural facade but with a few more flashes of colour than in previous commissions. The abstract lightning bolt and the background rays were inspired by the vibrant branding of the show posters… including the lit billboard that features so prominently above the balcony. The photos below were taken of the original artwork, created with acrylic and ink on paper. The different sections were cut and raised from the background to build the theatrical effect.
Developing and Sketching
Here are some of the sketches to show a little of the planning required for constructing the different sections. Identifying how the jigsaw might fit together and what parts of the illustration might be revealed when extruded out. The best example of what I mean here is the row of columns along the left hand side of the building. A flat drawing hides most of the details behind. But lifting those pillars into the foreground reveals the entrances underneath. So as you move your head position and viewpoint, more of the architecture needs to be considered and filled in.
Production Reproduction
After the original was created, I was able to scan and digitally clean up the artwork ready for print. If the layers are carefully separated the piece can be printed as a single sheet ready for cutting. The reproductions are made as stiff 400gsm art prints which hold up well to carving up and sticking together. So it’s possible to create multiple dioramas capturing the same intricate line work and cut detail. It even allows a little more accuracy on the smallest areas of signage and text. The trick is to correct small and distracting blemishes without smoothing out the personality of the hand made artwork. Can you tell the difference between the original above and the prints below?
Handmade, Hand Delivered
It was a bit of a tight deadline for this one… so here I am making sure all the boxed artworks made it on time to their event. A little train adventure and a brief walk across London. Well worth it for the chance to see the sun on the real life building.
A massive thank you to Charlotte and LW Theatres for commissioning another theatrical piece. I hope it’s a long and successful run for everyone involved!
Interesting in working with me on a project? Get in touch here on my projects page.
