This week I continued to sculpt my wig for the background character(s).
Similar to my battle with the wood grain in weeks 2 & 3, this week was spent entirely on finessing and fine detail. Different to the wood grain in that I never had to scrape it all off and start again (thankfully), instead it was a challenge of making it cleaner, neater, sharper… Very fine work, very detailed, very delicate. Delicacy for those who know me well is definitely not something I am known for in my work, which obviously is why this week (month really) has been A, challenging and B, so important for my growth as an artist.
Picture me, poised over a tiny wig with a sculpting tool, baring down on a singular line of hair, thinner than a strand of spaghetti, preparing to smooth it out and make the angles just right, while attempting to keep the line perfectly imperfect, with a bit of a wave in it, but still nice and smooth. My hands feel clumsy, they shake as I try to focus. I forget to blink and my eyes burn under the strong lamp above me… and then… I accidentally slice right through the line and ruin it. This happened many times. Or in my focus I wouldn’t realise I was stabilising myself with my pinky, and had left a big finger print on another section of the wig! Ugh!
I think my wood grain battle, and how tricky that was mentally, actually really prepared me for this. I rarely got upset, and definitely saw the humour in these moments, but it was frustrating at times. I really started to question whether I had the chops to do it at all. I felt confident that with time and practice, I would definitely be able to achieve the desired outcome, but could I do it now?! Self doubt was definitely my nemesis this week. I had to continually remind myself to keep pushing and go a little above my PB.
Our primary school growing up had a motto “Always do your PB”, your personal best. Our Dad loved this motto and it became part of our lives outside of school as well. I know, to this day, my sister and I both live by this motto. Being here, I sometimes feel my PB isn’t going to cut it, that I need to go further. But in fact, your PB is by definition, the best you can do. So maybe this is just the first time in a while that I have felt really put to the test. So I remind myself daily to keep doing my PB. Our school was Portland North Primary. For those just tuning in, or who don’t know my backstory, I grew up in a beautiful small town called Portland, on the south-west coast of Victoria in Australia. The novelty of now living in a city called Portland on the other side of the world is not lost on me!
Once again, I had great support from my supervisors and colleagues this week, who continually re-assured me that this kind of sculpt is a difficult task for any sculptor, George even commenting “Better you than me!”. And what is the secret to this fine detail hair sculpt you may ask. Perseverance. I really think it is that simple. I had lots of good tips from various people, but in the end, it was definitely down to that.
But what good tips Jhess!? Well, ok…
Maeve told me early on that she likes to use Brylcreem (I think I mentioned this in last weeks post). So I gave that a go and definitely found it very useful for smoothing things out. After roughing out the shapes and lines, you are left with lot’s of messy, crumbly bits of clay everywhere and the brylcreem helped to clear that off so I could see the overall shape. It also softens the lines and softens the shapes which… is a pro and con.
Trivia: Brylcreem is an English hair product that has been around since 1928.
Toby’s advice? “The first thing I want you to do, is put this [the brylcreem] away”.
Don’t overdo it. I had gotten too excited and too reliant on the product, I think hoping, like a fad diet, that it would finish my job for me… a quick fix! The brylcreem, in softening the clay and shapes, actually eats away at the clay meaning you wear everything down, and it can actually make it harder to define your lines etc. An alternative, which I may have mentioned before is Isopropyl (rubbing alcohol) mixed 1/1 with water. This is a good way to remove the gritty bits without softening the clay too much.
Some advice/ a request I received from mould maker Bica Heilman and caster Megumi Ogo was to not make the depth of the wig too thin. When the wig has had a mould made, and been subsequently cast, if the sculpt was too thin, the wig will tear in those places, commonly along the part line. This creates a lot more work for the casting team in repairing these tears. Bica created a simple measurement tool for me using a pin and a piece of tape, the tape marking the minimum depth line. Using this tool, upon inspection, my wig was far too thin in many places, the part line going all the way down to the scalp. I had been told at the very beginning to be careful of making my wig too thick, as to not make the character(s) heads look too big, but now in hindsight I see that it is about finding balance. I spent about half a day rebuilding up my wig to meet the minimum depth needed for the moulding and casting. This lesson is one that I am sure will stay with me for future projects of this nature!
Once my wig was at a point that it was looking almost “Perfectly Imperfect” (a term I have since learned is an overarching theme/ aim set out by the art directors), I went to Toby and admitted my frustration in my own limitations, feeling as though I couldn’t possible make it any neater. I asked how I should proceed. Toby offered “You should freeze it”. “What does that do?” I countered, to which Toby responded “It makes it cold” with a cheeky smile. Look. He was not wrong haha. Using a product called “Cleaning Duster” from Office Depot, basically a can of compressed air usually used to clean computer keyboards etc. I sprayed down my wig, making it icy cold. I then used a fresh, clean, dry paint brush to carefully brush away any last clay crumbs. I have mentioned before my love for the way the puppetry world adopts tools and products from other industries, so this is another great one to add to my list.
This technique was very helpful, and ultimately brought me to my finishing point (well very near it). My two supervisors, sculptor Toby Froud and head of puppets Georgina Haynes (bares repeating in case anyone is just tuning in) are both very happy with the wig. Not to downplay it… I was obviously very excited and relished the moment when George told me I had done a great job. Grinning ear to ear. Almost 2 weeks working on this wig, and I have learned so much in the process, but am none the less, very much looking forward to moving on. I say it is very near finished, as I now have to wait for it to be approved by art director Curt Enderle, which fingers crossed will happen with no adjustments needed.
Friday morning, after receiving the thumbs up from George, I was given the task of sculpting some eyebrows. I commented to my desk-mate that they looked more like caterpillars as I worked, and then laughed heartily when I took them over for Toby’s opinion, and he said… “Hmmm, how do I explain it, they look… like caterpillars”.
I took a half day on Friday to go and see a Masseuse/ Physical Therapist. Sitting in a chair, sculpting tiny things for 5 weeks has wreaked havoc on my shoulders, neck (and forearms it turns out!). I include this as I think it is so important to look after ourselves in this industry. At home I see a physio once a month at least. But that is often based around performing and what that does to my body… this was a little different. So after a great session, I feel so much better, and have some targeted stretches that I can do at work and after work to prevent injury. The masseuse Autumn Peterson works out of NE Portland. She really took the time to ask about my work and what I was doing with my body day to day. Highly recommend.
And that my friends, was week 5.
On the home front, I am very excited that this week my show “Escape From Trash Mountain” opens at the Sydney Opera House! Our Trash Puppets show, that I co-wrote with Ben Anderson, built all the puppets for, and till this year co-starred in with the amazing Amy Moule, is playing at the Opera House! Obviously it is sad that I can’t be there, performing on the stage, but I am so excited to have my/ our work showcased at this legendary venue. My friend and colleague, amazing performer Jem Eva will be there in my place, filling my shoes in the most spectacular way. I got to rehearse Jem in to the role late last year, and she was so fantastic! I could not be prouder of our entire Trash Mountain team for this achievement! Jacob Williams our director, Jess Davie our set designer, Ben and Amy! We devised this show over 2yrs ago, and it is still going strong!
Chookas Trashies!!!