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The Art Of The Storyboard Diorama


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TheHomecoming360.jpg

Well I changed my mind again ! I will now leave two of the upstairs windows open for viewing.I kind of like the 3D quality it gives to the scene.Under normal conditions with no lighting or the lighting on low power it shouldn't distract attention away from the main storyline,especially when that basic story is told from the perspective of the right hand front side with the arrival of the main character.

The scene through the window is actually a hallway,that is why the painting seems so close to the window.

Edited by JohnReid
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TheHomecoming378.jpg

I am getting close to the end now as this is the first pic that I can say that there will be no more changes made,period.

I don't want there to be any other distractions in the pic as the viewer has enough to figure out what the yellow thing

is.

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  • 2 weeks later...

TheHomecoming363.jpg

I kinda like this composition for the motorcycle area.It will be viewable up close near the case's side glass.

TheHomecoming384.jpg

:wub: :wub: :wub:

John,

Not been here for a while but its good to see you still updating this..

INCREDIBLE work...

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I have researched the history of the term "Storyboard Diorama."The first mention of it was in Ken Hamilton's book "How to Build Creative Dioramas."in 2001.I picked up on the idea from him but added the Disney idea of telling the picture story in a certain sequence.It is a good feeling to have added something new to our hobby. Museums are especially interested now as it fits right into their new role of viewer interaction.My hope is that other modelers will pick up on this especially those who are interested in having their works having a chance to survive beyond their own lifetimes to be enjoyed by future generations.

I plan to write an online book someday about all of this.

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  • 2 weeks later...

TheHomecoming575-1.jpg C|:-)

The basic diorama is finished ,now it is just a few odds and ends to complete.It has been a long haul.

John,

WOW!

This certainly has been a BRILLIANT thread, and not just for its contents,

But it has been very informative,most interesting and IMPRESSIVE to follow.

I have found it very enjoyable to read your words and see the story come alive in your modeling.

Your Backyard Flyer is an EXCEPTIONAL build as are all those other pieces that make up the whole storyboard Diorama...Like the motorcycle,the dog, the houses and the garden.etc...

I am going to miss this having followed it for while..

I also look forward to your book and if it goes on sale, I will buy a copy.

John, thank you very much for a SUPERB diorama. :worship: :worship:

Good luck in all that you do. :wave:

HOLMES :salute:

(Still hanging around for your odds and ends! ) :whistle:

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TheHomecoming024-1.jpg

Hooked up the lights.

Just discovered you here John :wave: had to stop browsing your work when I came across this, what can I say!! you know I'm a big fan of your work and your photography skills, this one ticks all the boxes for me, it's so realistic it's frightening :D

I'm off to look for more of your work.

Terry

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Just discovered you here John :wave: had to stop browsing your work when I came across this, what can I say!! you know I'm a big fan of your work and your photography skills, this one ticks all the boxes for me, it's so realistic it's frightening :D

I'm off to look for more of your work.

Terry

Hi Terry ! nice to hear from you.Welcome aboard the ARC. :cheers:

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  • 5 weeks later...

TheHomecoming001-3.jpg

This is where I am right now.I have broken it down again into 5 separate modules so that I can fine tune the modules where they join together.I want to have an invisible joint where they meet.I will completely finish each module now so that when I set it up at the museum there will be minimal finishing required.I have to do it this way as I can't get it out of my basement in one piece(I was just lucky with the others,especially the Jenny piece as it just barely fit out the door).

Edited by JohnReid
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TheHomecoming001-3.jpg

This is where I am right now.I have broken it down again into 5 separate modules so that I can fine tune the modules where they join together.I want to have an invisible joint where they meet.I will completely finish each module now so that when I set it up at the museum there will be minimal finishing required.I have to do it this way as I can't get it out of my basement in one piece(I was just lucky with the others,especially the Jenny piece as it just barely fit out the door).

. . . Amazing workmanship John.

So how big is the whole diorama structure when all parts are assembled together ..thank you. :thumbsup:

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Once%20upon%20a%20time%20001_zps2a1156d0.jpg

Here are the first few glued to a wood board.

If you have a favorite old west film prior to 1969 please advise and if I can find the poster I will put it up in my rogue's gallery walk of fame.I am only doing the movies filmed before '69 because I want to keep it relevant to what might have influenced his work.

On the walls in the interior of the baggage car (out of normal view) I plan to put up posters of the westerns directed by Leone.The roof of this car will be removable for viewing.

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Man I sure love the creative process, with so many different options to explore, I keep changing my mind on the storyline.I could appeal to a wide audience by using the poster idea or I could narrow it down to my original idea.This decision has to be made fairly soon before I get too far into it.

All of my dioramas to this point have been aimed at a wide audience in a museum setting.My last diorama " The Homecoming" was originally to be titled "The Road Taken".The idea was quite simple a man returning from war, standing on a spot in the road and remembering making a decision that changed the rest of his life.Now he has returned from the war and is standing in the same spot looking at his "Backyard Flyer" and wondering that after all that he has seen at war could he ever go back to those innocent days and continue his life as before.

Any veteran would understand his dilemma but would a wider audience really get the point of the story.(Fortunately this original story still exists but now in pictures only that I took before I decided to make all of changes.)

The changes that I made came at the suggestion of many of my friends and family to open things up a bit to make it more of a celebration of his return home.

They made many good points,the subject matter is too heavy and most viewers would not get it.It is too stark in nature and does not have enough detail to keep a museum audience interested for very long.The colors are drab and not very appealing.Too depressing in general. These are all valid points but not my vision of what it should say or what I am trying to say in the diorama.And of course there is the money aspect.Originally the diorama was appraised by my appraisers at half the value of others that I had done mostly because of the reasons I have already mentioned.

Well in the end you could say I sold out artistically and went for the buck and pleasing the viewer which of course is true when looked at from this point of view.In the end I had to ask myself are you doing this for yourself or have you already promised the piece to a wider audience when it was finished.

Viewers usually love detail and enjoy searching for it.It has been said that a good diorama is one where you can always find new things to look at.Capturing the imagination of kids and holding it for awhile has always been my primary goal in doing this stuff. I think that I made the right decision.

The next diorama I am doing is for myself and it is promised to nobody.

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Once%20upon%20a%20time%20001_zps2a1156d0.jpg

Here are the first few glued to a wood board.

If you have a favorite old west film prior to 1969 please advise and if I can find the poster I will put it up in my rogue's gallery walk of fame.I am only doing the movies filmed before '69 because I want to keep it relevant to what might have influenced his work.

On the walls in the interior of the baggage car (out of normal view) I plan to put up posters of the westerns directed by Leone.The roof of this car will be removable for viewing.

John,

Amazing workmAnship..

I was thinking of what you asked Re western movies prior to1969....

How about:

The Man From Laramie{1955}.

STAGECOACH { 1939}

The Man who Shot Liberty Valance,{ 1962}.

SHANE{1953}.

These are just a few that I have watched recently. :thumbsup:

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