Heather Dixon Wallwork's Blog, page 21
September 9, 2011
Delsarte Crash Course, prt 1
This is interesting.
When I was a pipsqueak in college, I took a costume design class where we studied Francois Delsarte's systems of expression. Francois Delsarte was a Parisian who lived from 1811-1871, and believed that emotions and feelings could be symbolically expressed through visual means.
For example:
These are just a few Delsarte poses.
The idea caught on like a man on fire, and was hugely popular in America. Theaters, movies, even kids' classes (complete with kids' books of exercises) learned Delsartism.
Delsarte poses from "Phantom of the Opera" (1925).
Why do I love this picture so much??
A pretty good summation, I think, you can find starting at :13, from "The Court Jester".
So, a pretty stylized way of communicating emotions. As popular as it was though, it fell hugely out of fashion (along with it's buddy, melodrama) in favor of more realistic ways to tell a story. I think it's still ingrained in western culture, however, and is used in more symbolic, stylized storytelling like animation and musicals & other children's media. So, I'm pulling together a 3-post series on the system in hopes that people will find it as interesting as I do.
If not, here are a bunch of crummy drawings for you to enjoy anyway. Hahaha.
In the Delsarte system, the body was split into 3 parts:
Head: These areas symbolize logic and reason. Delsarte refers to it as "Mental".
Heart: Emotion and feeling. Also known as "Moral."
Body: Physical & passion. Also known as "Vital."
Ok, that makes sense so far. Head = logic, torso = emotions/heart, and limbs = action & physical. Each of these segments also have 3 segments of head, heart, and body.
With limbs, the hands and feet = the more logical parts. Hands make gestures to show what we're thinking, feet tap when we're impatient, etc. Forearms and calves, the more emotional, cradling babies, embracing, that sort of thing. The upper arms & legs are the vital, and the more in action they are, the more passionate the pose.
(The elbow, btw, is known as "The Soul of the Arm". In case you wanted to know.)
The torso is split like this:
Shoulders as logic, chest as moral/emotional, and stomach & below as vital.
The head is split the same, the eyes and above as the logic, the cheeks & nose as emotional, and the lips and chin as the action & vital.
I know it sounds like complete crackerjax. In a weird way, though, it also makes sense. Kissing someone on the forehead has a very different feel than kissing them on the cheek (more affectionate) and kissing on the lips (more sensual.)
By this breakdown, it also makes sense why people think blondes are dumb--they have very little contrast in the head zone. People with light skin and dark hair, on the other hand, seem much smarter & more interesting. Similarly with glasses, we don't assume people are smart because they're straining their eyes from reading--it's because glasses add contrast & shape in the logic area!
Crazy!
Anyways, if you can't wait for the next two installments, read the Delsarte System of Expression, a book published in 1885 and now on the internet! If you like small words, though, wait around for the next post & I will do my best to do justice with this fascinating stuff.
When I was a pipsqueak in college, I took a costume design class where we studied Francois Delsarte's systems of expression. Francois Delsarte was a Parisian who lived from 1811-1871, and believed that emotions and feelings could be symbolically expressed through visual means.For example:
These are just a few Delsarte poses. The idea caught on like a man on fire, and was hugely popular in America. Theaters, movies, even kids' classes (complete with kids' books of exercises) learned Delsartism.
Delsarte poses from "Phantom of the Opera" (1925).
Why do I love this picture so much??A pretty good summation, I think, you can find starting at :13, from "The Court Jester".
So, a pretty stylized way of communicating emotions. As popular as it was though, it fell hugely out of fashion (along with it's buddy, melodrama) in favor of more realistic ways to tell a story. I think it's still ingrained in western culture, however, and is used in more symbolic, stylized storytelling like animation and musicals & other children's media. So, I'm pulling together a 3-post series on the system in hopes that people will find it as interesting as I do.
If not, here are a bunch of crummy drawings for you to enjoy anyway. Hahaha.
In the Delsarte system, the body was split into 3 parts:
Head: These areas symbolize logic and reason. Delsarte refers to it as "Mental".
Heart: Emotion and feeling. Also known as "Moral."
Body: Physical & passion. Also known as "Vital."
Ok, that makes sense so far. Head = logic, torso = emotions/heart, and limbs = action & physical. Each of these segments also have 3 segments of head, heart, and body.
With limbs, the hands and feet = the more logical parts. Hands make gestures to show what we're thinking, feet tap when we're impatient, etc. Forearms and calves, the more emotional, cradling babies, embracing, that sort of thing. The upper arms & legs are the vital, and the more in action they are, the more passionate the pose.
(The elbow, btw, is known as "The Soul of the Arm". In case you wanted to know.)
The torso is split like this:
Shoulders as logic, chest as moral/emotional, and stomach & below as vital.The head is split the same, the eyes and above as the logic, the cheeks & nose as emotional, and the lips and chin as the action & vital.
I know it sounds like complete crackerjax. In a weird way, though, it also makes sense. Kissing someone on the forehead has a very different feel than kissing them on the cheek (more affectionate) and kissing on the lips (more sensual.)By this breakdown, it also makes sense why people think blondes are dumb--they have very little contrast in the head zone. People with light skin and dark hair, on the other hand, seem much smarter & more interesting. Similarly with glasses, we don't assume people are smart because they're straining their eyes from reading--it's because glasses add contrast & shape in the logic area!
Crazy!
Anyways, if you can't wait for the next two installments, read the Delsarte System of Expression, a book published in 1885 and now on the internet! If you like small words, though, wait around for the next post & I will do my best to do justice with this fascinating stuff.
August 29, 2011
Never Lullaby
I wouldn't hope you never knewHow heartstrings loop & knitThe cradle form within my armsYou'll not not always fit
I have a heart hole in my soulYour whole heart fills just rightA dim dull darkened part of meYou'll not not always light
And when you're not not far away(as children don't not grow)Recall that jigsaw piece of warmthYou'll not not always know
* * * * *
Just a bit of nonsense. I like kids, but I can never finish a whole one.
August 17, 2011
Harry Potter dream
Last night I had the coolest dream ever. It had Harry Potter in it.
I haven't had a Harry Potter dream in like 3 years. The last one was awesome. It went like this:
I was working an early morning custodial shift when Harry and his gang came running in. They were being chased by Death Eaters!
I hurried them quick fast like a bunny into the freight elevator, closed the doors and saved their lives! Death Eaters have no idea how to work freight elevators!*
*or, um, how to use the stairs, apparently.
Hahaha. That was a pretty good dream.
The one I had last night, though, beats it by a mile!
It started like this: The school headmaster decided to buy an air freshener for his car.
This was good news for his car but bad news for Harry and his gang.
Harry was like, "But wait Professor!! What will we do if the school is attacked??"
And Dumbledore was like, "Oh I'm sure you'll be fine! TAH TAH!"
...but they WEREN'T FINE.
DUN DUUUUUUUUUN!!!!
Just like Harry had predicted, the school got attacked! It got attacked by giant alien ships!
They beamed down a horrible little creature. It looked like this.
It's a spider. But instead of having a head, it has a needle. The two scariest things in the world combined.
They immediately started taking over the school.
They, um, weren't very aggressive though. They were mostly just underfoot. So, like, the dumb students? Yeah, they were the first to go.
Harry and his gang had to save the school!!
Harry had this awesome idea:
For the next few minutes of my dream, I was entertained by a very energetic Mexican kicking dance.
I have no idea why they aren't using their wands.
Anyways, that worked pretty well until they realized that the creatures were breeding, and had a gestation period of about two minutes.
I think they gave up at this point.
It must have turned out ok though, because my dream had a weird jump in it and it ended with them going to Shopko and picking out an air freshener for their car. It took them like 10 hours to find just the right one, so obviously it was a pretty important plot point.
THE END
Awesome. Am I right? I'm pretty sure when this post goes live I'm going to get a phone call from JK Rowling wanting to buy the rights. What should I charge? $20 maybe? I did spend a long time dreaming it up. You may have noticed that I left out the most important part: Which air freshener did they end up buying?
If you want to know that...you'll have to read the book!
I haven't had a Harry Potter dream in like 3 years. The last one was awesome. It went like this:
I was working an early morning custodial shift when Harry and his gang came running in. They were being chased by Death Eaters!
I hurried them quick fast like a bunny into the freight elevator, closed the doors and saved their lives! Death Eaters have no idea how to work freight elevators!*
*or, um, how to use the stairs, apparently.
Hahaha. That was a pretty good dream.
The one I had last night, though, beats it by a mile!
It started like this: The school headmaster decided to buy an air freshener for his car.
This was good news for his car but bad news for Harry and his gang.Harry was like, "But wait Professor!! What will we do if the school is attacked??"
And Dumbledore was like, "Oh I'm sure you'll be fine! TAH TAH!"...but they WEREN'T FINE.
DUN DUUUUUUUUUN!!!!
Just like Harry had predicted, the school got attacked! It got attacked by giant alien ships!They beamed down a horrible little creature. It looked like this.
It's a spider. But instead of having a head, it has a needle. The two scariest things in the world combined.They immediately started taking over the school.
They, um, weren't very aggressive though. They were mostly just underfoot. So, like, the dumb students? Yeah, they were the first to go.
Harry and his gang had to save the school!!
Harry had this awesome idea:
For the next few minutes of my dream, I was entertained by a very energetic Mexican kicking dance.
I have no idea why they aren't using their wands.Anyways, that worked pretty well until they realized that the creatures were breeding, and had a gestation period of about two minutes.
I think they gave up at this point.
It must have turned out ok though, because my dream had a weird jump in it and it ended with them going to Shopko and picking out an air freshener for their car. It took them like 10 hours to find just the right one, so obviously it was a pretty important plot point.
THE ENDAwesome. Am I right? I'm pretty sure when this post goes live I'm going to get a phone call from JK Rowling wanting to buy the rights. What should I charge? $20 maybe? I did spend a long time dreaming it up. You may have noticed that I left out the most important part: Which air freshener did they end up buying?
If you want to know that...you'll have to read the book!
August 12, 2011
SO...you think you know Disneyland!
After Comic-Con, I went to Disneyland.
In one picture, it was like this:
Disneyland, I love you.
SO! If you remember the quiz from last year...here is more! Where in Disneyland are these pictures?
Good luck!!
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In one picture, it was like this:
Disneyland, I love you.SO! If you remember the quiz from last year...here is more! Where in Disneyland are these pictures?
Good luck!!
1)
2)
3)
4)
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August 6, 2011
Shark Week
This past week was shark week. A lot of people wrote sharky blog posts.
But no one posted about the real threat:
The Bearsharktopus.
Unlike sharks, if it doesn't catch you in water...it will find you on land.
You can't outrun it.
You can't outswim it.
There is no place to hide.
Unless you're on an airplane. Airplanes are safe.
...UNTIL THE BEARSHARKTOPUSODACTYLS FIND YOU!!!!!
But no one posted about the real threat:
The Bearsharktopus.Unlike sharks, if it doesn't catch you in water...it will find you on land.
You can't outrun it.
You can't outswim it.
There is no place to hide.
Unless you're on an airplane. Airplanes are safe.
...UNTIL THE BEARSHARKTOPUSODACTYLS FIND YOU!!!!!
August 1, 2011
Comic-Con goodness
Comic-Con was pretty neat, again. Here is a picture. Ah!
Didn't get a chance to go this year? That's all right! You can experience Comic-Con right there in your own home! Here's how:
1. Dress up in an awesome costume2. Fit yourself into the microwave3. Get 100 of your friends to fit themselves into the microwave too4. Hire a person in a white polo shirt to yell at you for being in one place too long
WALAH!! Man I so cannot wait for next year!!
The costumes were neat. So here is another guessing game! You don't win anything, but you will get a warm glow for being awesome.
1)
2)
4)
3)
5)
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The best part though was the people I got to meet.
No, not the Pope (although that was cool)
These guys:
Don't tell me you can't see them.
Here's a closer shot:
!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome!!
Didn't get a chance to go this year? That's all right! You can experience Comic-Con right there in your own home! Here's how:1. Dress up in an awesome costume2. Fit yourself into the microwave3. Get 100 of your friends to fit themselves into the microwave too4. Hire a person in a white polo shirt to yell at you for being in one place too long
WALAH!! Man I so cannot wait for next year!!
The costumes were neat. So here is another guessing game! You don't win anything, but you will get a warm glow for being awesome.
1)
2)
4)
3)
5)
6)
8)
7)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
14)
15)
16)
17)
18)
19)
The best part though was the people I got to meet.
No, not the Pope (although that was cool)These guys:
Don't tell me you can't see them.Here's a closer shot:
!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome!!
July 20, 2011
Stuff I Like
Babies that wear big flowers on their heads.
Those cheap $1.25 pizzas you get from the frozen food section at the store.
I could eat them all day!
Telling stories to my neices and nephews. <3
"A giant spider lives under your house. If you make too much noise, it will wake up."
The Tours Departing Daily blog. If you like Disneyland--and I do!--you will love this blog.
I might have kissed the screen. A lot.
Telling more stories to my nieces and nephews. <3
"When you turn 8, your parents are going to eat you."
Shopping with my mom :)
Indiscreetly taking cool Comic-Con pictures like the creepy stalker I am!
I leave this morning! I can't wait!!
Those cheap $1.25 pizzas you get from the frozen food section at the store.
I could eat them all day!Telling stories to my neices and nephews. <3
"A giant spider lives under your house. If you make too much noise, it will wake up."The Tours Departing Daily blog. If you like Disneyland--and I do!--you will love this blog.
I might have kissed the screen. A lot.Telling more stories to my nieces and nephews. <3
"When you turn 8, your parents are going to eat you."Shopping with my mom :)
Indiscreetly taking cool Comic-Con pictures like the creepy stalker I am!
I leave this morning! I can't wait!!
July 6, 2011
Obscure Movie Monday
It's time for Obscure Movie Monday.
Obscure Movie Monday is an internet meme I just made up. It's where I talk about obscure movies. Today's obscure movie is:
SNOW WHITE AND THE THREE STOOGES
(1961)
Yes it really is a real movie and it's great. Snow White is played by the Olympic gold medalist, Carol Heiss.
In the opening sequence, she's presented with a swan sleigh full of presents.
A swan. sleigh. full. of PRESENTS!!!
"Oh! They're all so beautiful! Which one should I open first?"
Little Me:
"I wish I had all dose pwesents."
Later on, she gets thrown into the dungeon with only stale bread and dirty water to eat.
This was the saddest thing I ever saw as a kid. The image burned itself into my brain and still makes me a little melancholy.
Lucky for us though, we get cheered up when we meet Prince Charming! Who just happens to be...
A VENTROLIQUIST!!!
(Told you this movie was awesome.)
He has a dummy voiced by, I think, Mel Blanc. He has his own song in fact.
♫♪♫"I'm in love, I'm in love, that's whyyyyyy!"♫♪♫
"I wish I had dat puppet."
The movie also features:
A bizarre-yet-fascinating dream sequence where they ice skate on a pool of water (it really is neat)
A minstrel wagon careening off the side of a cliff!
A dude getting boiled alive in a vat of oil!!
...IN SLOW MOTION!!
In case I haven't convinced you yet...here's a clip of the trailer. It will make you want to watch the movie. If it doesn't, you probably drink baby panda bear blood for breakfast or something.
Oh...that reminds me. The Three Stooges are in this too. I don't really remember much about them. (No princess. Ergo, I was gone at those parts.)
I managed to get a screenshot though. (This screenshot, it is real):
^^And if THAT doesn't make you love this movie already...YOU HAVE NO SOUL
Obscure Movie Monday is an internet meme I just made up. It's where I talk about obscure movies. Today's obscure movie is:
SNOW WHITE AND THE THREE STOOGES(1961)
Yes it really is a real movie and it's great. Snow White is played by the Olympic gold medalist, Carol Heiss.
In the opening sequence, she's presented with a swan sleigh full of presents.A swan. sleigh. full. of PRESENTS!!!
"Oh! They're all so beautiful! Which one should I open first?"Little Me:
"I wish I had all dose pwesents."Later on, she gets thrown into the dungeon with only stale bread and dirty water to eat.
This was the saddest thing I ever saw as a kid. The image burned itself into my brain and still makes me a little melancholy.
Lucky for us though, we get cheered up when we meet Prince Charming! Who just happens to be...
A VENTROLIQUIST!!!
(Told you this movie was awesome.)
He has a dummy voiced by, I think, Mel Blanc. He has his own song in fact.
♫♪♫"I'm in love, I'm in love, that's whyyyyyy!"♫♪♫
"I wish I had dat puppet."The movie also features:
A bizarre-yet-fascinating dream sequence where they ice skate on a pool of water (it really is neat)
A minstrel wagon careening off the side of a cliff!
A dude getting boiled alive in a vat of oil!!
...IN SLOW MOTION!!
In case I haven't convinced you yet...here's a clip of the trailer. It will make you want to watch the movie. If it doesn't, you probably drink baby panda bear blood for breakfast or something.Oh...that reminds me. The Three Stooges are in this too. I don't really remember much about them. (No princess. Ergo, I was gone at those parts.)
I managed to get a screenshot though. (This screenshot, it is real):
^^And if THAT doesn't make you love this movie already...YOU HAVE NO SOUL
July 1, 2011
Moonlight kiss
[image error]
Oh...mush. #o.-#
* * * * *
I've had some people ask about how I made the valances, so here are some links:
Here
Here #2
A more technical Here
They turn out nice and are pretty easy to make. (I just used foam board and tape.) Walah!
* * * * *
I've had some people ask about how I made the valances, so here are some links:
Here
Here #2A more technical Here
They turn out nice and are pretty easy to make. (I just used foam board and tape.) Walah!
June 18, 2011
Sailhead
A project I've been toying with.
I wanted to try something new w/the sponge & pastel brushes, then slowly erasing to the higlights. I scrapped it mid-paint due to ugliness.
PINK RESURRECTION!!!!
Acrylic bristle brush. The hair might be a bit...wormy but overall I like it. One day I will do hair like Kevin Keele! That's the stuff dreams are made out of.
I wanted to try something new w/the sponge & pastel brushes, then slowly erasing to the higlights. I scrapped it mid-paint due to ugliness.PINK RESURRECTION!!!!
Acrylic bristle brush. The hair might be a bit...wormy but overall I like it. One day I will do hair like Kevin Keele! That's the stuff dreams are made out of.
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