VentHaven Convention-Day 2

This is a display of ventriloquist Jim Teter's President figures. He and Taylor Mason did very funny shows last night. Taylor Mason also did an excellent lecture this morning on the business of performing and writing new material. Again today I met more folks I've been acquainted with online. Young Kevin Barnett, who performs with a figure I made for him, performed at the Junior Open Mic. He also gave me a shameless plug on stage. (Thanks, Kevin).

Tonight I'll see Steve Taylor, Jacki Manna and Phil Hughes perform.

Mike Palma will perform later tonight and promises a big surprise.

VentHaven Convention-Day 1

No photos yet because the convention restricts use of photos shot during the convention. I'll try to clarify the policy regarding my blogging. However, after a day of travel, the convention has been fun and interesting. I met a nice fellow from Kuwait who bought my first Elmore. I had a lovely conversation with Jimmy Eisenberg of Ventriloquist Sideshow. He builds amazing works of art that are also wonderful vent figures. I met Pete Michaels and wished him well on his America's Got Talent video vote. Hope he wins. I ran into vent figure builder Mike Palma. We'll visit more later. He has a Dealers Table here. Also met Dan Willinger of VentriloquistCentral.com in the elevator. I've also visited with several folks who say they read my blog regularly. Can't help but be flattered by that. Thanks!

More later.

Time to pack

I'll be attending my first Vent Haven Convention next week. I'm looking forward to meeting many of the folks in person that I've only known online. I'll be there for almost the entire convention. I plan to attend several seminars and workshops. The performances should be really fun. On Saturday, there is a field trip to the Vent Haven Museum, and that will be a highlight of the trip, I'm sure.

There will be a Dealers Room where vent merchants will be selling all kinds of cool stuff. As you can see, I've left room in my suitcase to bring back souvenirs.  

Great Scott!

Wally is one of my best customers (and now online friend). He loves taking his figures, including Uncle Earl, out to the community at large to entertain whomever comes his way.  Occasionally I get photos of his field trip antics, some real... some, shall we say... "doctored".  This one represents the latter.    I hope all of my figures find partners who enjoy having as much fun as Wally.

Where will all this lead?

This scary-lookin' feller is my emerging armature for a new figure sculpture. I added the eye tray yesterday.   I have a good idea who I want to portray in this project. But I won't specify this early on because you never know what twists and turns might lead me to a different character. 

My next step will be to put him on a headstick so I can start the application of clay.  I might use KleanKlay.  I might use PaperClay.  

KleanKlay presents a challenge in that I'll need to ship him to Braylu Creations for mold making (if Buzz agrees to take the project). KleanKlay will dent in shipping unless I come up with a way to protect him with a coating or padding or both.

PaperClay hardens, so shipping the model is less likely to result in damage. But PaperClay doesn't stick to urethane very well.  Maybe I'll paint some Elmer's Glue on the spot where I want to sculpt, let it dry to a sticky consistency, and then apply the PaperClay.  

(Feel free to weigh in.)  

Stare down?

The old guy on the left and the old guy on the right are brothers.  Not twins.  But close.  The fellow on the left was built in 2010.  The Afro Mr. Winkle on the right was shipped to Canada this week to serve as a Constable On Patrol.  He was sent to his new headquarters wearing his off-duty duds.

Nub-bub

Nubs in action!  (Reminds me of "Pigs in space!".) 

Actually its far less dramatic. Nubs, you may recall, are pre-formed platforms for the jaw axle tube-ends to rest upon. This is a photo of the nubs installed in a head. 

• First I put the jaw with axle in the head and marked where the axle ends touched, or nearly touched, the sides of the head.  
• Then  I took two globs of Magic-Sculpt and placed each near the marks.  
• Next step was to sink the nubs into the soft Magic-Sculpt.  
• After that, I placed the jaw in the head with the axle-tube ends resting upon the nubs.  I moved the jaw (and nubs) around in the soft Magic-Sculpt until the jaw was perfectly positioned.  
• Using my fingers and a wet Popsicle stick, I secured the soft Magic-Sculpt to the head and enclosed the nubs.  Then I pulled out the jaw. 
• When the Magic-Sculpt dries, the nubs will be secure, but I'll probably add a little more Magic-Sculpt to cover any gaps for safe measure.  

And that's nub-ology.  Nubness.  Nub-bub!

Change is good

I did a little facial alteration on this Elmore head.  (I believe he's one of the last).  I changed the nose, enhanced his upper lip area under the nose, and reshaped the jaw. He's seen here after his first coat of primer.  The primer makes the acrylic paint adhere, but it also shows the flaws that need to be corrected. A little sanding here, a touch of grinding there, and a bit of fill for good measure.  

After that, he'll get his first coat of flesh tone.  Then we really begin to see who this fella is.

Another satisfied customer

It always gives me great satisfaction to see one of my little fellas with a happy new partner. My full-size Uncle Earl now resides in California with his pal Wayne. From the looks of it, I think the two of them will get along just fine.

Wayne said he's particularly pleased that there's finally someone in the house who looks older than him.

Stick out yer tongue

The last step has been completed.  After the tongue dries, I'll do a little touch-up sanding and then it's off to the mold-maker.  

Flat top

After hollowing out Uncle Earl's formerly solid jaw, I've added a piece of flat styrene plastic.  I used Magic-Sculpt to secure the styrene in place.  After it dries, I'll add a tongue.  No teeth because all of Uncle Earl's have fallen out.  

Jaw breaker

The original jaw for the full-size Uncle Earl was a solid piece of urethane.  A little too heavy, I think.  So I've used a Dremel saw, a chisel and hammer, and a Dremel grinder to hollow it out.  I'll add a thin flat piece of styrene across the top for the tongue to rest upon.  The center portion will remain hollow.  The remodeled model will be used to make a new mold.

By the way, I killed my Dremel doing this.

Nubs

Okay.  What are nubs?  Well, I don't know what else to call 'em.  Nubs are made of Magic-Sculpt and are platforms for the jaw's axle tube-ends to rest upon.

In the photo, the one on the left is the top-side where the tube will rest.  The one on the right shows the bottom side.  The sharp edge will be sunk into a small glob of Magic-Sculpt on each side of the head's interior.  The solid nubs will be moved around in the soft Magic-Sculpt until the jaw finds its proper free-swinging position.  The globs of Magic-Sculpt will dry and secure the nubs in place.

Nubs.  Easy to make.  No baking required.

Cop an attitude

About 2-1/2 years ago I made a black Mr. Winkle (photo on right).  He was purchased by a fellow who lived in Spain.  Not confident in the Spanish postal system, he requested that I ship the figure to an address in Austria.  Well, Mr. Winkle ended up in Australia.  It took a few months to rescue him and redirect him to yet a new address in the U.K.  

To make a short story longer, I've been asked to build a similar version of Mr. Winkle (photo on left). His new partner will be dressing him in a 19th-century police uniform. (I guess he'll be an old cop with an attitude).

 Hopefully the journey to his new home in Canada will be more direct.