Thursday, December 30, 2010

What's All This Then?

I occasionally get commissions to do some odd and interesting things - here's a case in point. These store mannequins have been modified to represent underground miners as part of a display at the Beaconsfield gold-mining museum.

(Remember Beaconsfield? Two miners survived and were rescued after being trapped following a mine collapse in a gold mine several years ago. Sadly, a third miner lost his life in the accident, which made world headlines).

Unfortunately, even though the poses of the mannequins had been changed to suit their new role, they still looked like store dummies, or worse still, life-sized versions of Ken and Barbie!
My brief was to paint the faces and hands (the bits that are going to show in the display) so that they looked more real and to make them look more like miners and less like effete metrosexuals.
Here are some before-and-after pictures.
It was a fun project.
Oh yes - one of them is a woman - she's apparently an underground surveyor holding her own in a man's world.



17 comments:

Dawn in the Forest said...

It's not easy to turn a model into a miner. Bravo to you! You are a fantastic painter :)

Healing Woman said...

This is incredible work. What a great job!!!!!! I know your commission will be applauded.

Marisa said...

you did a great job on the repaint, that's quite clever I never would have thought to do that.

M

Надежда said...

красота из безликих такие образы!!!!!!

Michele Lynch Art said...

Very cool!! You did an amazing job painting them!

Robin's Egg Bleu said...

Awesome job! What is really neat is, I can tell you are the artist who did the work. If I'd come across these randomly, my first thought would be, "hmm, looks like Susie McMahon painted these"!

Unknown said...

Wow Susie, this looks like an interesting project, and you did an amazing job. Bravo! :)

Cody Goodin said...

Your painting skills are amazing. Are teaching any of that at AFIC? Maybe at least give some of us pointers?

flyingbeader said...

Amazing! Susie, those faces look so real! Are they based on the miners? Can't wait to see you again.
dot

Susie McMahon said...

Thanks, everyone! I must say I had lots of FUN doing this - fancy getting paid to have FUN!
Cody - I'll certainly be covering painting techniques etc in the AFIC workshop - as much as I can squeeze in!
Dot - these aren't based on the actual trapped miners - I had to go with what was already there in terms of form. They do have a display at the museum which is a replica of the rockfall and the pocket they were trapped in. you can go in there and feel what it was like.
The display that these figures will be in is more just a general mine tunnel display with holograms and all kinds of neat stuff happening. Can't wait to se it finished in mid January!

C & R Service Locksmith said...

so cool...they look like real people...I am sure they will be amazing when done...

Jan

McNally School said...

I don't think that I would be able to resist the urge to play some sort of practical joke with these guys. Isn't there a neighbor that you would like to startle?

Unknown said...

Okay this just proves that you are some kind of A-W-E-S-O-M-E talented artist! That is some transformation...he looks real!
W-O-W!

hugz
Pam
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Susie McMahon said...

Hee, hee........I thought of it Elaine - but they were picked up today to be installed in the display next week, so I missed the boat on mischievous tricks. I should be able to post some pics of the finished installation in coming weeks. From the description, it sounds like it is going to be really awesome!

Carla said...

Awesome, fabulous works of art.

KittyAnn said...

Very cool Susie! I'd like one to prop up in the back seat of the car! A great traveling about town companion, LOL!

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