The Prade

Saturday and Sunday consisted of a lot of running about organising and getting things ready for 1:30.

I helped rig the pirate ship, and sort the pyrotechnics without falling off the bow of the ship or blowing myself up. 

We laid out the puppets on tarps as the grass was wet through from rain. The weather wasn't amazing on Saturday or Sunday but the rain kept off for the duration of the parade.

There was a great turn out both days, and I scared lots of children. 

result

pyros

Laid out puppets

Face paint

The wind meant that, in the name of streamlining, the highest allegorical women on the trikes were  left off

My little dragons

Me as the green dragon

My green man looking awesome

It ain't easy being green.

Midsummer Watch Prep

 Friday's job was to get the puppets and floats into a van, and the larger floats into the market carpark. 

 Vicky and I also organised the rehearsal room, putting out face paints, brushes and water for the people joining in with the parade to use, and taking over the hats for the devil band and jesters. 

This mirror was brilliant

Order of procession

It was bastarding down with rain, the ceiling was leaky

Midsummer Watch Workshop - Handy

I was tasked with making the hands for the green men. 

Using foam, strengthened with wire and covered in latex/ tissue paper

Midsummer Watch Workshop - Fleshing out

Spent rather a long time sorting through fabric, scavenging from the left over carcass of a green dragon

Starting with the darker shades at the bottom I looped the strips around 

I gave him epaulets

Tied his head on, to keep it from lolling

quite pleased 

Midsummer Watch Workshop - When Ears are Too Much

I wanted to give him ears that moved, however when I put them on him I decided they were too much.

He looks fine without, especially now his eyes are coloured

Time to build a neck and shoulders onto the backpack

Using split bamboo I constructed a frame

Split bamboo is a really lovely material, strong but flexible

I thought I might like a long neck 

Neck and shoulders covered in latex

Russell was making allegorical women, this is Rumor 

Vicky helping to construct the hoops for the body

the hoops covered in green fabric 

Vicky's green man body, made from concentric hoops strung from the shoulders and covered in strips of green fabric 

Midsummer Watch Workshop - Green Man head WIP

Last Friday I worked more on my green man's head

I cut out many leaves, trying to make them look like hazel tree leaves. I put foam under some of the leaves on his jowls to give more depth.

I also started to add fabric, giving him a beard. I realised this covered up the foam I had stuck to his cheeks/chin so had a look what I could do with them. sticking them up made him look like he had sort of cat whiskers, which I liked.

I discovered a new kind of white.

I used lighter colours to pick out the shapes and textures on his face.

Layered up different colours of green fabric to give him hair.