135
Sokol

  • 01_Fin
When I wake I’m still in a dream
In most men's dreams I suppose you will find dolls running through fields late at night after men like in those films from the 70’s. I suppose this is the case for me too, but the dolls tend to be ghosts from my past, who take many shapes and befriend the creatures that haunt the rusty landscapes of my dioramas.

Generally speaking I would say that wherever the man built and destroyed, left and came back you will find a part of me and a fertile ground for my imagination.
But then throughout this rusty mess some big light burst came in and terrorised my pet ghosts: my wife and I got a baby!!

So here came the tiny thing and there went our sleep as fast as light. For as far back as I remember I always had some trouble to make a difference between dream and reality, it really got worse since that moment. So almost daily at sunset this spring and summer I put the laundry on the wire between the two old rusty poles that separates our small garden and the one of the neighbours listening to calm music at loud volume in my headphones –with the sun in my eye too- and one day both my worlds collided and I saw myself putting the laundry on the gun cradle of a boat, with both rusty poles being replaced one way by a funnel and the other one by a rusty boat mast.

And I felt like I had no choice than doing a diorama out of this. (pic 1)
  • 01_Step

About the Author

About Jean-Bernard André (jba)
FROM: RHONE, FRANCE

Here are my 10 rules for better dioramas! 1 -The diorama is everything modelling is about, it's the meeting point of the manufactured object that is the model and the human input, you can –and have to- tell stories with dioramas. 2 -When doing your diorama you should not be influenced by any tr...


Comments

Hi Claude -well this expo was at half an hour *walking* from my home so.. I arrived at the opening at 9am on saturday, left 10 mn later and took the dio back 10 mn before the closing on Sunday so you see, I am not very good at public relations It was a fig show called Lugdunum, and no i didn't win anything -not that it was important indeed plenty of pics of the show thanks for asking anyway here
FEB 29, 2008 - 02:44 AM
Simply superb, and forget taking your work to model shows, JBA, you need a studio of your own! Peter F
MAR 26, 2008 - 08:06 PM
Thanks Peter, but honestly i 've always been knowing my own diorama promised land was certainly not paved with gold medals from shows But i would still go for the friends. maybe see you at Telford in one year or 10!
MAR 28, 2008 - 12:54 AM
Jean-Bernard, Your work as always is just spectacular. I hope to someday do a diorama so fully realized. I do follow my interests now and let them inspire me. I am growing very tired of the same old types of subjects. I am starting a figure company with my best friend and our subject matter is inspired by history, but civilian history rather then military history. Every one who has seen our first three figures has really liked them. I only hope that our figures add to the hobby the way your work does. Best Jeff
APR 17, 2008 - 03:24 PM
I just saw this, and JBA, my friend, all I can say is, you are a genius. While most dioramists try to faithfully replicate reality, you go much further, and try to replicate a moment of your self. Fantastic work.
APR 18, 2008 - 08:03 AM
So well, I just caught your comments while in a cybercafe in the "worse" kind of French wild west i could be stucked in and you can imagine those really cheers me up Jeff I can only pray for your new company to be successful! And thanks David as always (very long time, very no see!!) may your inspiration still be there wherever in the world you are right now bye for now my friends JB
APR 22, 2008 - 01:53 AM
JBA I really admire your creative skills,such as using cigarette paper for clothes and such. Taking the time to explain your techniques and the reasons behind them is truly a learning experience for me. It would be a joy to see your projects in person. Keep it up! rR
APR 22, 2008 - 02:56 AM
Wow! Just amazing.
MAR 07, 2010 - 02:20 AM
HI JBA For some reason I never replied/posted first time around ... so I´ll do so this time. Have always loved your models, and its always great to see them brought back again. Even the still water looks great!!
MAR 07, 2010 - 02:39 AM
Thanks Michael for unearthing such an old thing, it still looks okay after 3 years.. Than you Franck, the "reverse water" method is completely crazy to be honest and I wouldn't do this again. but i still like the way i treated the green colours. Someday i might change the guy which is the weak point of the scene
MAR 07, 2010 - 11:30 PM