Wednesday, January 8, 2014

From AlanD: Challenge Desperado 'Alias' (30 points)


Alan sends in his amazingly creative Challenge Desperado.

From Alan:
When Curt announced that the entrance fee for the competition was to be a figure inspired by a Sam Peckinpah film, I knew I had to have a go at modelling Bob Dylan in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. Dylan plays the role of the enigmatic Alias in the film. I say 'plays the role', but essentially Dylan just wanders around from scene to scene, uttering the occasional gnomic observation. However, I am such an inveterate Dylan fan that I choose to overlook the fact that he can't act for crap in the film. I blame poor direction.
The scene I chose to reference occurs when Pat Garrett encounters three of The Kid's sidekicks (including Alias) in a truly grotty saloon/store in some fly-bitten armpit of a town. To keep him out of the way while he intimidates his two friends, Garrett tells Alias to go over to a shelf in the store and read off the labels from the 'airtights' (ie cans). So the scene ends up being quite funny, Garrett having a tense conversation, while in the background we hear Dylan intoning 'beans...spinach...ahh Lima?... tomatoes...spinach and beans...' and so on.

To evoke the scene I used a bookcase from 4-Ground, stocked with sacks and cans made from greenstuff and bits of bamboo skewer. The figure of Alias was based on a desperado from Artizan designs. To try to make him resemble Dylan a bit more, I repositioned his head and used greenstuff to fatten his face a bit, give him more curly hair, give him an upturned collar and have him holding a can of beans, rather than the revolver of the original figure. Alias wears glasses in the scene, which I tried to give the suggestion of with a painted frame.


Anyway, I certainly didn't do a good job of his face, but I'm pleased with it nevertheless. Hope you like it, Curt!

Whoa, this is amazing work Alan. I love how esoteric and creative this vignette is, and your execution of it has been flawless. The modifications to the figure are excellent and I really like how he is positioned away from the viewer which, in turn, beacons your interest even more. 

This is all quite funny as I actually despise Bob Dylan and distinctly remember seeing this film in my 20s and thinking, 'well, cheer up Curt, maybe he'll get shot in the movie...' Now here I am, delighted and chomping at the bit to have him in my figure cabinet! 

'Alias' will give Alan 30 points, including a few extra for the overall realization of this great vignette. Thanks so much Alan!

20 comments:

  1. Cracking stuff mate. Packed with character!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is brilliant! There is just a huge bunch of character in this one! Going to my toplist for challenge entries definately

    ReplyDelete
  3. Haha, awesome little vignette. Particularly as Curt hates Bob Dylan!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a brilliant vignette.

      Dylan: 'The Great Mumbler'

      Delete
  4. Fantastic entry Alan - very inspired :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. A very creative entry. Nice one.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is another great piece, really enjoying the challenge

    Ian

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wonderful idea and great modelling.

    Cheers
    PD

    ReplyDelete
  8. Very creative! Can't say I'm a Dylan fan - playing in movies, that is, but a wonderful choice nonetheless. Dean

    ReplyDelete
  9. That's some amazing work on this little vignette. I had to look up the scene in youtube as I don't know the film and what else could I say than spot on realisation?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Incredible. What a great idea and excellent execution.
    Cheers

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your comment! As long as you're not a spam droid I'll have it up on the blog soon. :)